Chapter: 10. The Prince And The Swallow
Literary Appreciation: The Power of Compassion in a Fable
“The Prince and the Swallow” is a beautiful and poignant fable, a type of story that often uses animal characters or personified objects to teach a moral lesson. While it features a statue and a bird, it delves deeply into human emotions and societal issues. It’s a story that asks us to look beyond appearances and consider what true happiness means. Through the unlikely friendship between a gilded statue and a small bird, the tale explores themes of empathy, self-sacrifice, and the profound joy that comes from helping others. It teaches us that even seemingly small acts of kindness can have a huge impact and that looking out for others can transform not only their lives but also our own hearts.
Summary of “The Prince and the Swallow”
High above a bustling city, stands the magnificent statue of the Happy Prince, covered in gold and precious jewels. Once a living prince who knew only pleasure within his palace, he is now fixed in place and can see all the suffering and misery of the poor people in his city. One night, a little Swallow, who has been delayed on his migration to Egypt because of a foolish attachment to a Reed, arrives in the city seeking shelter. He decides to rest at the feet of the Happy Prince. To his surprise, large drops of water begin to fall on him, and he discovers that the Prince’s eyes are filled with tears. The Happy Prince explains his sorrow at seeing the widespread poverty and asks the Swallow to become his messenger. Despite the cold and his longing to join his friends in Egypt, the Swallow, moved by the Prince’s sadness, agrees to deliver a ruby from the Prince’s sword-hilt to a poor seamstress whose son is ill and crying for oranges. After completing this compassionate act, the Swallow returns to the Prince, feeling a mysterious warmth, which the Prince explains is the joy of doing a good deed.
Detailed Explanation of Each Scene
1. The Statue of the Happy Prince:
Setting the Scene: The story begins by introducing the statue of the Happy Prince, positioned high on a tall column, overlooking the entire city. Appearance: He is described as being covered in thin gold leaves, with bright sapphires for eyes and a large red ruby on his sword-hilt. This emphasizes his outward beauty and wealth. Public Perception: The people of the city greatly admire him. A Town Councillor praises his beauty, though he adds a comment about his lack of usefulness, revealing a practical, perhaps cynical, view. A mother tells her crying child to be like the Prince, implying he embodies contentment and never complains, highlighting how people perceive him as a symbol of perfect happiness. 2. The Little Swallow’s Delay:
The Swallow’s Journey: A small Swallow flies into the city. His friends have already flown to Egypt for the winter, leaving him behind. Reason for Staying: He had fallen in love with a Reed, a “ridiculous attachment” according to other swallows. This shows a slight immaturity or folly in the Swallow’s character at the beginning. Departure from Love: When autumn arrives and his friends leave, the Swallow feels lonely and grows tired of the Reed. He tries to convince her to join him, but she refuses. He then declares he is flying to the Pyramids and bids her goodbye, signifying his decision to finally begin his journey. 3. The Swallow Meets the Prince:
Arrival in the City: After flying all day, the Swallow arrives at night, looking for a place to rest. Choosing a Resting Spot: He spots the tall statue of the Happy Prince and decides it’s an ideal spot, offering a “fine position” and “fresh air.” He settles down between the Prince’s toes, believing he has found a luxurious “golden bedroom.” Unexpected Tears: As he prepares to sleep, a large drop of water falls on him. He’s confused because the sky is clear. A second drop falls, leading him to criticize the statue’s uselessness. Just as he’s about to fly away to find a chimney-pot, a third drop falls. Discovery and Pity: The Swallow looks up and is shocked to see the Happy Prince’s eyes filled with tears, running down his golden cheeks. The sight of the weeping Prince in the moonlight fills the Swallow with pity, shifting his perspective and making him pause his plans. He asks who the Prince is and why he’s crying. 4. The Prince’s Sad Story and First Plea:
The Prince’s Past: The Prince explains that when he was alive, he lived in the “Palace of Sans-Souci” (meaning ‘without worry’). He knew only pleasure, playing in the garden and dancing in the Great Hall, shielded from all sorrow by a high wall. He was called “Happy Prince” because he believed pleasure was happiness. The Prince’s Present Anguish: Now that he is dead and his statue is placed high above the city, he can see all the “ugliness and misery” that he was ignorant of in life. Despite his heart being made of lead, he cannot help but weep at the sight of suffering. The Swallow’s Observation: The Swallow thinks to himself, surprised, “What! Is he not solid gold?” (implying he thought the Prince was completely without feeling or flaw), but is too polite to say it aloud. The Seamstress’s Plight: The Prince then describes a poor seamstress far away in a little street. Her hands are pricked by her needle as she embroiders a gown for a Queen’s maid-of-honour. Her little boy is ill with a fever, crying for oranges, but she has nothing but river water to give him. The Request: The Prince asks the Swallow to take the ruby from his sword-hilt to the seamstress, as his feet are fastened, and he cannot move. 5. The Swallow’s Hesitation and Compassionate Decision:
Initial Reluctance: The Swallow reminds the Prince that his friends are waiting for him in Egypt, flying along the Nile, and soon going to sleep in the tomb of a great King. He also expresses a dislike for boys, recalling how rude miller’s sons used to throw stones at him. Prince’s Sadness: The Happy Prince looks so incredibly sad that the little Swallow feels deep pity. Agreement to Help: Despite the cold weather and his strong desire to migrate, the Swallow’s compassion wins over his reluctance. He agrees to stay for one night and be the Prince’s messenger. The Prince thanks him. 6. The First Good Deed:
Taking the Ruby: The Swallow takes the great ruby from the Prince’s sword and flies away with it in his beak. Journey Observations: On his way, he flies over significant city landmarks: the cathedral tower with marble angels, the palace where he hears dancing and sees a girl on a balcony discussing her dress and “lazy seamstresses,” and the river with lanterns on ships. These observations contrast the opulent lives of the rich with the suffering he is about to witness. Delivery to the Seamstress: He finally reaches the poor house. The boy is tossing feverishly, and his mother has fallen asleep from exhaustion. The Swallow hops in and gently places the ruby on the table beside the woman’s thimble. Comforting the Boy: He then flies softly around the boy’s bed, fanning his forehead with his wings. The boy feels cool, believes he is getting better, and drifts into a “delicious slumber,” showing immediate relief from the Swallow’s action. 7. The Warmth of a Good Deed:
Reporting Back: The Swallow flies back to the Happy Prince and tells him everything he has done. A Strange Feeling: He remarks to the Prince that it is “curious,” but he feels “quite warm now, although it is so cold.” This is a significant moment of self-discovery for the Swallow. The Prince’s Explanation: The Happy Prince explains this newfound warmth: “That is because you have done a good deed.” This directly links the act of selfless kindness to an internal feeling of happiness and warmth, a core message of the story. Theme and Moral of the Story
Theme:
Compassion and Self-Sacrifice: The central theme is the profound power of compassion, leading to selfless acts of sacrifice. The Happy Prince sacrifices his precious jewels, and the Swallow sacrifices his comfort and migration plans, all to alleviate the suffering of others. True Happiness: The story suggests that true happiness does not come from material wealth or a life free of worry, but from empathy and active benevolence towards others. The Prince, who was “happy” in his palace, only finds true purpose and deep sorrow (which leads to good deeds) after seeing the city’s misery. The Swallow experiences warmth and contentment only after his act of kindness. Social Inequality: The tale starkly contrasts the opulence of the Prince’s gilded statue and the wealthy palace inhabitants with the harsh realities of poverty, illness, and overworked seamstresses in the city. Moral:
The moral of “The Prince and the Swallow” is that genuine happiness and fulfillment are found not in personal pleasure or material possessions, but in acts of charity, kindness, and self-sacrifice for the well-being of others. It teaches us the importance of empathy, looking beyond our own needs, and actively working to reduce the suffering in the world around us. Doing good deeds, even small ones, brings warmth to the heart and makes the world a better place.
Author Spotlight: Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a renowned Irish poet, playwright, and writer. He is celebrated for his sharp intellect, biting wit, and distinctive, often humorous, writing style.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Wilde was raised in a prominent Anglo-Irish intellectual family, which fostered his love for literature and the arts from a young age. He received an excellent education, first at Trinity College, Dublin, and then at the prestigious University of Oxford in England.
After his studies, Wilde moved to London, where he quickly became a dazzling figure in the city’s elite social circles. He was known for his impeccable sense of fashion, his flamboyant personality, and his brilliant conversational skills, which often featured clever paradoxes and epigrams.
His fame soared in the 1890s, a period during which he became London’s most successful playwright. His plays were characterized by their witty dialogue, social satire, and exploration of moral themes. Some of his most celebrated works include the brilliantly satirical comedy The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays and the darkly philosophical novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Wilde’s unique voice and keen observations of human nature continue to captivate readers and audiences worldwide.
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