【幸福な王子】ライスが絵本を読んでくれるらしいぞ！

Summary

The story recounts the tale of 'The Happy Prince,' a statue of a prince in a town, who is adorned with precious gems. After noticing the suffering of the poor, the statue’s heart breaks, and it sends a swallow to help those in need, offering his jewels and gold. As the swallow helps deliver these gifts, both the prince and the swallow face sacrifices. Eventually, the swallow dies from the cold, and the prince's heart is broken. When the statue is demolished, his heart and the swallow are taken to heaven, where they live together happily ever after. A moving tale of selflessness and compassion.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story begins with a statue of the 'Happy Prince' in a town, admired for its beauty and precious jewels.
• 😀 The Happy Prince's statue, although magnificent, has no ability to move or feel, yet it sheds tears due to the suffering of the poor.
• 😀 A swallow arrives in the town and, noticing the statue's tears, learns that the Happy Prince wants to help the needy in the town.
• 😀 The Happy Prince asks the swallow to remove a ruby from his sword and deliver it to a poor family with a sick child.
• 😀 The swallow follows the Happy Prince's instructions, delivering the ruby and witnessing the joy it brings to the family.
• 😀 The Happy Prince, having no more jewels, asks the swallow to remove one of his sapphires and give it to a young playwright who is struggling.
• 😀 The swallow then delivers the other sapphire to a poor girl selling matches, making a significant difference in her life.
• 😀 Despite losing his precious gems, the Happy Prince does not stop helping the poor, and the swallow continues to help him.
• 😀 As winter approaches, the swallow stays with the statue, and the Happy Prince offers to give his gold body to the poor, piece by piece.
• 😀 Eventually, both the swallow and the statue’s heart break—symbolizing sacrifice—and they are reunited in heaven as a reward for their selflessness.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the story in the script?

The central theme of the story is selflessness, sacrifice, and compassion. The statue of the Happy Prince and the swallow work together to help the poor and needy, even at great personal cost.

Who is the Happy Prince, and what makes him special?

The Happy Prince is a statue erected in a town, covered in gold and jewels. His beauty and opulence make him a source of pride for the town. However, he becomes deeply saddened when he realizes the suffering of the poor around him.

Why does the Happy Prince cry, and what does he ask the swallow to do?

The Happy Prince cries because he is moved by the poverty and suffering of the people in the town. He asks the swallow to help him by delivering the jewels from his statue to those in need, starting with a poor mother and her sick child.

What does the swallow do to help the Happy Prince?

The swallow follows the Happy Prince's requests and delivers the ruby from his sword, the sapphires from his eyes, and the gold from his statue to various people in need, including a poor playwright, a poor girl selling matches, and others.

How does the swallow contribute to the Prince's mission despite the cold weather?

Despite the approaching winter, the swallow stays by the Happy Prince's side, continuing to help deliver the Prince's treasures to the poor. This act of loyalty and selflessness shows the swallow's deep commitment to the cause.

What happens to the Happy Prince after all his jewels and gold are distributed?

After the Happy Prince has given away all his jewels and gold, he loses his opulence and his statue becomes a sad, bare figure. His heart, made of lead, breaks in grief after the swallow dies beside him.

What significance does the heart of the Happy Prince have in the story?

The heart of the Happy Prince, made of lead, represents the Prince's deep sorrow and sacrifice. After the swallow dies, his heart breaks. It is later discovered to be the most precious thing in the town, as it is taken by the angel to God.

How does the town react when they see the ruined statue of the Happy Prince?

The townspeople are shocked when they see the statue of the Happy Prince in ruins. They decide to dispose of the statue, but the heart of the Prince remains unbroken and is taken away by the angel.

What happens to the swallow by the end of the story?

The swallow dies from the cold, having remained by the Happy Prince's side to carry out his mission. It is a symbol of loyalty and self-sacrifice in the face of hardship.

What is the conclusion of the story, and what is its ultimate message?

The story concludes with the Happy Prince and the swallow being reunited in heaven, where they live happily ever after. The ultimate message is that acts of kindness, selflessness, and sacrifice are the true forms of beauty and are rewarded in the afterlife.