The Happy Prince
Writer Introduction
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854–1900) was an Irish poet, playwright and author known for his sharp wit, flamboyant style and strong social criticism. He wrote fairy tales for children and adults — blending fantasy with moral lessons. The Happy Prince (first published 1888 in The Happy Prince and Other Tales) is one of his most famous short stories — a touching tale of compassion, self-sacrifice and the contrast between appearance and reality.
Story — Retelling / Readable Version
In a town stood a tall statue called the Happy Prince. When he was alive, he had enjoyed a life of pleasure and luxury. The statue, covered with gold leaf and adorned with two sapphires for eyes and a large red ruby on his sword hilt, looked over the city from his high pedestal. He appeared happy, but from his vantage he could see the real suffering of the poor: starving children, a seamstress with a sick child, a playwright unable to get his play produced, and many other miseries hidden from the eyes of the town’s wealthy citizens.
At the base of the statue a little Swallow had taken shelter. The Swallow had delayed his migration to Egypt because he fell in love with a reed. But the cold came, and while all the other swallows flew south, this one lingered under the statue. One night the Happy Prince asked the Swallow to come close and told him that the Prince was no longer happy: his eyes had witnessed cruel poverty, his gold covered the statue rather than helping the needy, and the jewels were mere ornamentation for those who suffered. The Prince asked the Swallow to help him relieve suffering by carrying his riches to those in need.
Moved by the Prince’s gentle voice and pitying the poor, the Swallow agreed. First the Prince asked the Swallow to take the ruby from his sword-hilt to a seamstress whose child was ill. The Swallow flew down, dropped the ruby at her door, and she used the ruby to pay for medicine and food. Next, the Prince had the Swallow remove one of his sapphire eyes and give it to a poor playwright and then to an orphan match-girl — the Swallow plucked it and carried it away. Each time the Swallow obeyed, he weakened from the cold.
The townspeople noticed the ornament-less statue: the gold was slowly disappearing and one sapphire eye was missing. The mayor and the city council considered removing the statue. Meanwhile, the Swallow continued to help the Prince, distributing the Prince’s gold leaf to the poor, until the statue was no longer gilded but grey stone. The Prince’s lead heart — which had kept him unmoved in life — broke when he saw the suffering; it cracked into fragments.
Winter came, and the Swallow, exhausted and cold, fell dead at the Prince’s feet. The statue’s lead heart was also cracked and broken. The town councillors, who only liked things beautiful and useful for display, decided to pull down the statue and melt it in a furnace. The dead Swallow was cast aside and thrown on a dust heap. The melted statue was useless: the mayor thought the lead was worthless, so they threw the broken lead heart away.
In heaven, God’s Angel reported that the Prince and the Swallow had done the most beautiful thing in the city: they had shown compassion and helped the poor. God told the Angel to bring the two most precious things in the city to his throne. The Angel brought the broken lead heart and the dead Swallow. God declared that both should live for ever in Paradise.
Short Summary (50–80 words)
The Happy Prince is a moral fairy tale about a gilded statue who, from his high pedestal, sees the suffering of his city. With the help of a faithful Swallow, he gives away his riches to relieve the poor. Both the Prince and the Swallow sacrifice themselves out of compassion. Their selflessness is recognized in Heaven, where they are rewarded with eternal life.
NCERT / Book Questions & Answers (Typical)
1. Why was the Happy Prince called 'happy'?
He was called the Happy Prince because when he was alive he had lived in a palace of pleasure and wore fine clothes; the statue was gilded and appeared joyful. But the name is ironic: from his statue he sees the city’s misery and feels deep sorrow.
2. Describe the Swallow's character and why he stayed behind.
The Swallow is loyal, compassionate and self-sacrificing. He initially delayed his migration because he lingered for love of a reed, and later stayed out of pity for the Prince and the poor people whom the Prince wanted to help.
3. What did the Prince ask the Swallow to do? Give two examples.
The Prince asked the Swallow to carry away his valuables to give to the poor. Examples: the ruby from his sword-hilt was given to the seamstress to buy medicine and food for her sick child; one sapphire eye was taken to a poor playwright so he could have a light and warmth to finish his play.
4. How does the story contrast appearance and reality?
The statue looked beautiful and joyful from the outside, but inside (metaphorically) the Prince had compassion and sorrow. The city's outward prosperity hides deep poverty. Those who care only for appearances (the mayor, councillors) fail to see true worth in compassion and sacrifice.
5. Why did the townspeople decide to pull down the statue?
Once the gold and jewels had been removed, the statue no longer looked impressive. The city councillors, who valued beauty and civic pride, could not bear a shabby statue and ordered it to be demolished.
6. What is the moral of the story?
The moral centers on charity, self-sacrifice and the true value of goodness. True nobility lies in compassionate action, not in outward luxury or social status. Those who sacrifice for others are truly precious.
Extra Questions for Exams (With Model Answers)
1. Explain the role of the Swallow as a symbol in the story.
The Swallow symbolizes devotion, humility and active compassion. Though small and seemingly insignificant, the Swallow carries out great deeds — showing that even the humble can perform noble acts. His loyalty to the Prince and willingness to suffer for others is central to the tale’s message.
2. How does Wilde use irony in the tale?
Wilde uses irony in the title (the “Happy” Prince who is sorrowful), in the behaviour of the city authorities (who value appearances but lack humanity), and in the transformation of the Prince from ornament to saintly benefactor. The story’s outcomes — beauty discarded, kindness rewarded in heaven — highlight moral irony.
3. Discuss how the story criticizes social indifference.
By depicting officials who refuse to recognize the Prince’s sacrifice and who discard the Swallow and the broken heart as useless, Wilde criticizes a society that prioritises materialism and status over human suffering and moral worth.
4. Write a one-paragraph character sketch of the Happy Prince.
The Happy Prince, though named for his outward beauty and luxury, is essentially compassionate and selfless. As a statue, he gains a new moral vision: he laments the hidden suffering of the city and chooses to sacrifice his beauty and jewels to relieve it. His transformation from a pleasure-loving prince in life to a charitable spirit in death emphasizes his innate goodness.
5. Prepare two short answer questions (for 3 marks) based on the story.
- Why did the Prince request the Swallow to remove his gold leaf and jewels? — To help the poor and relieve suffering he saw across the city.
- What recognition did the Prince and the Swallow receive at the end of the story? — God’s angel brought the dead Swallow and the broken heart to God’s throne as the two most precious things in the city, and they were told to live for ever in Paradise.
Conclusion
The Happy Prince is a timeless story about kindness, sacrifice and the discovery of true value. It’s often used in school syllabi because it blends a moving narrative with clear moral lessons and rich symbolism — ideal for exam-based study and essay writing.