The Happy Prince free essay sample

The Happy prince by Oscar Wilde seems to be written for children but its content addresses issues of morality to even adults: it develops feelings of sympathy for the poor in children  and it makes adults rethink of their attitudes towards life, the conversations between  the prince and the swallow in some places amuse us while in others places bring tears to us. Not just the moral values but the way the author treats the topic goes far beyond what one can expect from  a fairy tale to rank the story one of the most wonderful pieces of art in English literature. The image of the happy prince changes throughout the story: first from an unlived statue which is admired by the wealthy people  the Town Counselors to a used to be selfish prince who never cares of others suffering then a caring prince who is ready to give all what he has to the poor just to see they smile or make their lives less miserable than a beggar which is thrown because of his no practical and material values. As seen in the story, the moral lesson here is that when he is alive, the happy prince possesses a true dead heart and invisible eyes  (he feels and sees nothing; just enjoys a luxury life) but when he dies there he stands high above the city he has a lead feeling heart and bright his eyes, feeling and weeping over the pains of others. At the end of the story his heart cracks because it bears too much the poors misery; however, it is unburnable in fire. In the actions of the happy prince to care the poor it is understandable that he chooses what he is going to be  ashabby useful prince crying for peoples misery rather than something to be admired by the wealthy,  who have too much to earn an empathy distress. These people love him because he is decorated with precious  stones and gilded with gold but they never look into his heart which changes a self-centered swallow into an  emotional bird. The Swallow is another leading character in the story. It is interesting to say he is very bird ;  talkative b/c he sees a lot during his migrations, carefree due to his nature-living, sensitive when falling in love with a Reed and likely marrying her and kind-hearted to give up  his life out of his emotion towards the pleading and the tears of the happy prince. The authors literary talent invites readers to read from start to end without stopping at any place,  but if there is, it is only for some time to smile and think of noble thoughts and deeds of the two  characters, of to wipe away tears All in all, the story ends with the deaths of the Happy Prince and the Swallow. However, they are welcome in the nation of God Man is mortal and this law falls into no exception. For my own experience, the most important thing is the way one leads his life and where he is believed to come to rank the story one of the most wonderful pieces of art in English literature. 11111 The Happy Princes actions of helping the poor are worthy of respect. Without the ruby from his sword hilt, the seamstresss son may die of fever. His immediate and valuable action also helps the playwright out with a sapphire to buy food and firewood and escape from hunger and coldness. Again, the Happy Prince prevents the poor little match seller from being beaten by giving her the remaining sapphire. He is not hesitant to strip himself of all fine gold leaves to help the homeless children. Although the Happy Prince is a beautiful statue, a splendid work of art, he accepts his dull and grey appearance to help the needy to have a happy and sufficient life. His actions deserve being appreciated and praised. From the viewpoint of a Christian, I consider his worthy actions as a redemption. In the past, when he was alive, he was a selfish prince who only sought for and enjoyed pleasure. He shut himself in his palace away from those who really need his help. Living in the upper class, he never looked down at the lower class to see what life they led, what trouble they were in, what kinds of dreams they desired for and what misery they were suffering. Now after his death, when people erect him high above on the tall column, he has a chance to see the pain, sorrow, misery, poverty, ugliness and suffering of the poor and the needy around him. His lead heart is filled with love, pity and compassion. But it is too late. How can he help others while he can not move and has no power? Contrary to the past, although he was a young and powerful prince and easily used his authority to help the poor, he never cared for them who just lived outside his palace. Now, he is a statue and he has no way to help the poor but gradually takes off the precious jewels and sacrifices his beautiful appearance. All his actions are the worthy cost he must pay for the selfishness and the neglected duty of caring for the poor. As a redemption, all his actions are worthy to correct his bad behaviors and compensates for his wrong deeds. All the Happy Princes actions are worthy because they help change the swallows thinking who used to be self – centered and inconsiderate like the prince. At first, he did not intend to help the prince to distribute his precious jewels to the poor and was eager to fly to Egypt. However, it is the Happy Princes action that makes him moving and sympathetic to the compassionate prince as well as the needy. Moreover, the Happy Princes actions help him form a profound friendship with the swallow and together they make a difference in the lives of the unfortunate. The swallow delays his migration and stays over winter with the blind prince and even sacrifices his life in the icy winter. The Happy Princes actions are so worthy that they change the swallows thinking completely: from a adventure – loving swallow, he is now a faithful friend, a willing messenger who helps bring happiness to the poor. The Happy Prince does all the things he can do to help the poor, which in turn helps him find real happiness. His worthy actions make him realize what is real happiness and he is willing to share this real happiness with the poor even when he must sacrifice all the valuable possessions. His worthy actions bring back to him a position in the Heaven. That is a reward in return for what he did. The story ends and leaves behind a feeling of happiness and satisfaction. Although the Happy Prince is no longer a beautiful work of art but a grey and dull statue, he is now enjoying real happiness in return for his worthy actions in the Heaven. The image of a motionless statue helping the poor