The Happy Prince

Analysis of the Title

The: Article
Happy: Adjective. Denotes contentment, it is often related to an action or event that is good and
brings joy.
Prince: Noun. A prince is the son of a monarch or ruler.
Based on the title, we can assume the story will be about the life of a prince and the events which
made him happy. It could explain why this prince is so delighted.
Incipit

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He
was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright
sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

He was very much admired indeed. 'He is as beautiful as a weathercock,'

remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for
having artistic taste; 'only not quite so useful,' he added, fearing lest people
should think him unpractical, which he really was not.

The incipit lets the reader know the Happy Prince was such an admired and important person, for he
was granted a beautiful statue of himself. With the highlighted phrase we could suppose that these
Councilors will try to get either rid of the statue due to its non-existent use or they will try to find it
another purpose. Also, there is the possibility the story will be a narrate the life of this great prince.

Plot

The story is set in a city where a statue of the Happy Prince stands on a tall column. The
Happy Prince was once a real prince who lived a life of luxury and happiness, ignorant of
the suffering outside his palace. After his death, his statue is adorned with gold leaves and
precious stones, symbolizing his former opulence.

One day, a swallow seeking refuge for the winter perches on the statue and notices that
the Happy Prince is crying. The statue, through the swallow, recounts the misery and
poverty he now sees from his elevated position. He requests the swallow to help him
alleviate the suffering of his people by distributing the jewels and gold that decorate his
statue.

Theme

 Compassion for Others

 Self-Sacrifice
 Critique of Wealth and Materialism
 Redemption through Love

Characters
The first characters to appear at the beginning of the story are the town councilors, then
the charity children followed by their mathematical master. Then we can observe the main
character which is the statue (in this case) of the Happy Prince.

The second main character is the little Swallow which becomes attached to the happy
prince. The secondary characters are the poor woman who had an ill son, the treater writer
who was too cold to finish his writing, and the poor little match girl who had not been able
to sell any matches. The art teacher and the Mayor are also part of the characters.

Setting

Physical: The physical setting takes place in a university, the statue was place on a tall
collum high above the city. I believe the Happy Prince did not have a connection tied to
that place at all. As the story goes on, we are taken to other places of the city, such as the
prince’s old house.

Point of view

"The Happy Prince" is primarily narrated from a third-person omniscient point of view. This
perspective allows the narrator to access the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters,
including the Happy Prince himself, the Swallow, and even the city's inhabitants.
The third-person omniscient point of view gives the story a wide scope, allowing readers to
understand the perspectives of various characters and providing insight into their
motivations and emotions.

This narrative choice allows the story to explore themes of empathy, sacrifice, and the
contrast between wealth and poverty from multiple angles.
Additionally, the use of this narrative perspective contributes to the fairy tale-like quality of
the story, creating a sense of detachment that allows readers to view the events from a
more objective standpoint while still engaging with the characters' experiences and
emotions.

Symbols
Here are some key symbols in the story:
1.The Happy Prince: The statue of the Happy Prince symbolizes selflessness, compassion, and
generosity. Despite his own suffering, he feels deeply for the poor and downtrodden of the city and
sacrifices his own beauty and wealth to help them. The Happy Prince represents an ideal of
goodness and altruism.
2.The Swallow: The Swallow symbolizes innocence, loyalty, and sacrifice. Initially reluctant to
stay with the Happy Prince due to his own plans to migrate to Egypt, the Swallow ultimately
chooses to stay and help the prince in his mission to aid the poor. The Swallow's decision to
sacrifice its own comfort and safety for the sake of others highlights the theme of selflessness.
3. Gold and Precious Stones: The gold and precious stones adorning the Happy Prince symbolize
material wealth and luxury. However, these symbols of opulence are transformed into symbols of
compassion and generosity when the Happy Prince chooses to give them away to help the poor. The
act of shedding his material possessions represents a rejection of superficial values in favor of
empathy and kindness
4. The Lead Heart: Inside the Happy Prince is a leaden heart, which represents the prince's
capacity for empathy and compassion. The fact that it remains after all the gold and jewels are
distributed emphasizes the enduring nature of the prince's selfless spirit.
Irony

Despite being called "The Happy Prince," the protagonist is not actually happy; rather, he is
filled with sorrow for the suffering of the people in his city.

Style

Wilde's style in this tale is characterized by its elegance, wit, and moral depth.

It is a Lineal style, it follows an actual pattern of: Beginning, Middle, and End.

Ending

At the end of "The Happy Prince," the statue of the Happy Prince has been stripped of all
its gold and jewels by the townspeople, who no longer see its beauty and usefulness.

It is a closed ending. It did not end abruptly, several events led to the final action giving a
concrete closure.