Oscar Wilde’s Short Story, ‘The Happy Prince’

‘All that glitters is not gold’

Plate 1 for the first edition of "The Happy Prince and Other Tales," 1888, by Oscar Wilde and illustrated by Walter Crane. Public Domain

Over the centuries, humans have adorned themselves with gold and precious stones. Yet this decoration brings no happiness unless we also gild our souls with virtue.

In his short story “The Happy Prince,” Oscar Wilde shows us that when we adorn our souls with virtue and selflessness, we not only inherit redemption, but we also gain true happiness.

Journeying to Egypt, a Swallow decides to rest under the statue of the Happy Prince, which is covered in gold with two bright sapphire eyes and a ruby on his sword hilt. Yet when his golden refuge drips on him and he checks for rain, the Swallow soon realizes that the drops are the Happy Prince’s tears.

When the Swallow asks why he should cry, the Happy Prince replies that he cries because when he was alive, he was so happy in his castle that he never bothered to know his city. But he realizes: “Now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot choose but weep.”

Dazzling Gifts

The Prince pleads for the Swallow to help him. He sees a seamstress who cannot afford any medicine or food for her sick son and asks the Swallow to give the ruby from his sword hilt to the seamstress.

The Swallow hesitates, for it is cold and he should be heading to Egypt. Nevertheless, he takes the ruby, saying: “I will stay with you for one night, and be your messenger.”

The next evening, as the Swallow prepares to leave, the Prince again asks him to help. He notices a poor playwright without food or fire and asks the Swallow to take one of his sapphire eyes to the young man.

Though the Swallow objects, the Prince commands him to obey. The Swallow obediently takes the sapphire to the struggling playwright.

The next night, the Swallow bids farewell to the Prince, but the Prince begs him to take his other sapphire eye to a little match girl. She has just spoiled her matches and has no money to take home.

The Swallow objects, for the Prince will be blind. But the Prince insists that the girl needs the precious stone or her father will beat her. Reluctantly, the Swallow takes the gem to the girl.

Returning to the Happy Prince, the Swallow says: “'You are blind now, so I will stay with you always.” Despite the increasingly cold weather, the Swallow stays with the Prince, tells him stories, and helps share the rest of his gold with his city.

Rich Actions

Through this story, Wilde shows us that pleasures are fleeting. When we pursue them, we lose the opportunity to cultivate the virtue that enables us to look beyond ourselves.

Wilde also emphasizes that it is never too late to share the generosity in our souls. Even when we think we are beyond redemption, we must shake off the spoils of this world and take upon us the beautiful virtue of selflessness.

As Shakespeare says in “The Merchant of Venice”: “All that glisters is not gold/ Often you have heard that told.” A virtuous soul is far more beautiful and valuable than any gold or jewels can ever be. While gold can rust and fade, a virtuous soul will shine and be remembered above all else.

Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at [email protected]