6- The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde
1. AS A FAIRY TALE
Q. No. 1: What is fairy tale? Is this story a fairy tale? If your answer is “yes” give reasons? OR What type of story is “THE HAPPY PRINCE”?
Answer: “The Happy Prince” is a fairy-tale as well as a fantasy. It’s a fairy tale because of its supernatural atmosphere. As a fantasy, it has a deep moral lesson in it. Let’s discuss the story as a fantasy and fairy-tale.
First, the language of a fantasy is simple because mostly the readers are children. No doubt, the language of the story is simple and easy to understand.
Second, we see the statue and swallow talking to each other and helping the down trodden. We do not see such sights in the real world.
Third, a fairy tale is a story with moral purpose. The story under discussion also has a very sublime moral lesson. It tells us that man has been created with some purpose. He is not here to live for himself rather he is here to serve others. Man must help others. It is truly the surest way to win God’s pleasure as we see the happy prince and swallow winning God’s pleasure at the end of the story. (Words: 171)
2. A CHARACTER SKETCH OF THE HAPPY PRINCE (V.IMP)
Q. No. 2: How does the Happy Prince try to help miserable people? OR How does the Happy Prince get real beauty? OR What makes the Happy Prince weep? OR The Happy Prince sees best when he has no eye. Discuss.
Answer: It is true that the Happy Prince sees best when he has no eye. After his death, the beautiful statue of the happy prince was fixed on a tall column but here he got a chance of knowing the misery of his people. He began to repent because he could not help them when he was alive. He wept and wanted to help them. Luckily, a swallow came to seek protection under his feet. The statue requested the swallow to help him in helping the miserable people. So, the statue sacrificed his sapphire, ruby and gold to help the people.
But the statue became ugly. The swallow also died. Mayor of the city and his councilors decided to melt the statue in a furnace. Later, they threw it on a dust heap. The dead swallow was also lying there. Both the statue and dead swallow were useless things in the eyes of people. But they were the most precious things in the eyes of God. That was the way with which the statue and swallow got “THE REAL BEAUTY.” (Words: 179)
3. ELEMENTS OF SATIRE OR CRITICISM ON THE RULERS OR A SATIRE ON MODERN SOCIETY
Q. No. 3: Discuss the elements of satire in “The Happy Prince” OR How does the writer criticize the rulers? OR What does the writer want to convey by his story? OR The writer wants to satirize the false standards of modern society. Discuss.
Answer: “The Happy Prince” is a story based on satire. Let’s try to discuss these elements of satire on e by one.
The very first element of satire is obvious in the praise made by town councilor. He praises the statue in a very careful manner just to have public reputation.
Second element of satire is obvious when we come across a letter written by professor or Ornithology. This letter was full of ambiguity. Same ambiguity is also the prominent point of modern writings.
Third element of satire is actually the satire on rulers of Victorian Age. This is the most prominent point of satire that the writer wants to discuss. The rulers of the Victorian Age enjoyed luxurious life but remained unaware of the miseries of their people. They were indifferent to the problems of their subjects. Same is the case with the modern rulers.
So, it is very obvious that besides being a good fairy tale with a moral lesson, the story also satirizes the false standards of Victorian as well as modern society. (Words: 175)
4. THE ROLE OF THE SWALLOW (V.IMP)
Q. No. 4: What is the role of the swallow in the story? OR Why does the Happy Prince feel the need of an agent? What makes the swallow obey him? OR How does the swallow help the statue in removing the misery of people?
Answer: The statue of the Happy Prince needs the help of someone to help the poor. Luckily a swallow seeks protection under the feet of the statue. The swallow comes to know that the statue is very sad and wants to help the miserable people.The statue of the Happy Prince requests the swallow to help him in helping the miserable people. The swallow expresses his willingness.
So the swallow helps the people and gets spiritual pleasure out of this job. He flies here and there regardless of the rough weather in order to get firsthand knowledge of the misery of the people. He remains true to the prince till the last moment of his life. He dies at his feet. That’s why in the end, we come to know that he wins the love of God. It is only his innate goodness that makes him honourable in the eyes of God. It is very obvious in the last words of the story. “You have rightly chosen “says God” for in my garden of paradise this little bird shall sing for ever more.” (Words: 181)
5. THE THEME OF THE STORY (V.IMP)
5. What kind of society does Oscar Wilde demand in “The Happy Prince?”
Answer: Oscar Wilde through this short story wants to give the message that the real purpose of a man’s creation in this world is to serve humanity. Man should be ready to serve others. This is what can make God happy. Through this fairy tale, the writer depicts before us a situation of a prince whose statue was fixed on a tall column high above the city after his death but he came to know the misery of his people. He began to repent because he could not help them when he was alive. He wept and wanted to help them. Luckily, a swallow came to seek protection under his feet. The statue requested the swallow to help him in helping the miserable people. So, the statue sacrificed his sapphire, ruby and gold to help the people.
But the statue became ugly. The swallow also died. Mayor of the city and his councilors decided to melt the statue in a furnace. Later, they threw it on a dust heap. The dead swallow was also lying there. Both the statue and dead swallow were useless things in the eyes of people. But they were the most precious things in the eyes of God. (Words: 201)
Take Pity by Bernard Malamud: https://englishwithnaeemullahbutt.com/2025/07/18/take-pity-by-bernard-malamud/
Notes on English Literature: http://englishlitnotes.com