Chapter 5: "The Happy Prince"
Summary: "The Happy Prince" by Oscar Wilde is a touching story about a statue of a prince and a little swallow. The statue, known as the Happy Prince, is covered with gold leaves and precious jewels. However, the prince, who was happy during his lifetime, is now sad because he sees the misery and suffering of the people in the city from his high pedestal.
One day, a swallow, on his way to Egypt for the winter, stops at the statue to rest. The Happy Prince requests the swallow to stay with him for a while and help him in relieving the suffering of the people. The swallow, though initially reluctant, agrees to help the prince.
The Happy Prince instructs the swallow to take the gold leaves and jewels from his statue and distribute them among the poor and needy in the city. The swallow faithfully carries out the prince’s wishes, even though it delays his journey to Egypt. Eventually, the prince is stripped of all his beauty, and the swallow, exhausted from the cold, dies at his feet.
When the mayor and the town councilors find the statue in its decrepit state, they decide to remove it. The statue is melted down, but the prince’s leaden heart does not melt. The heart, along with the dead swallow, is discarded in a dust heap. However, God asks one of his angels to bring him the two most precious things in the city. The angel brings the leaden heart and the dead swallow, and God rewards them with eternal happiness in heaven.
The story conveys themes of love, compassion, and sacrifice. It shows how true happiness comes from helping others and being selfless.
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