The Happy Prince - Bedtime Story (BedtimeStory.TV)

Summary

The story of 'The Happy Prince' by Oscar Wilde follows a statue of a prince who, despite his beautiful exterior, is filled with sorrow after witnessing the suffering in his town. With the help of a kind swallow, the prince gives away all his riches to help the poor and suffering. As the prince sacrifices his wealth and the swallow stays through the cold winter, both show deep selflessness and compassion. Ultimately, the prince and the swallow are rewarded in Heaven for their acts of kindness, teaching that true happiness lies in helping others rather than in material wealth.

Takeaways

• 😀 A beautiful statue of a prince stands in the town square, covered in gold and gemstones, symbolizing wealth and happiness.
• 😀 The statue, known as the Happy Prince, can see everything happening in the town from his position in the square.
• 😀 A swallow, who is left behind by the other migrating birds, seeks refuge at the statue during a cold night.
• 😀 The swallow discovers the Happy Prince's eyes are filled with tears, revealing his sadness despite his outward appearance.
• 😀 The Happy Prince shares that he was once joyful, but now, as a statue, he is saddened by the poverty and suffering he sees around him.
• 😀 The prince asks the swallow to help a sick child by taking the ruby from his dagger and delivering it for medicine.
• 😀 The swallow helps the poor writer by taking one of the prince's sapphire eyes, which brings the writer joy and food.
• 😀 The prince requests that the swallow take his second sapphire eye to a poor girl selling matches, helping her stay warm.
• 😀 The swallow, moved by the prince’s generosity, decides to stay with him, offering to be his eyes after the prince becomes blind.
• 😀 The swallow continues helping the prince by delivering gold leaf to the poor, slowly making the statue's appearance worse while bringing happiness to others.
• 😀 The swallow dies from the cold winter, and the prince’s statue is destroyed, but their selfless acts are rewarded in heaven, where they live happily ever after.

Q & A

Why is the statue called the Happy Prince?

The statue is called the Happy Prince because it was originally a symbol of joy, as it was adorned with gold leaf and precious gemstones. However, after becoming aware of the misery around him, the prince becomes sad, which contradicts his initial title.

What motivates the Happy Prince to cry?

The Happy Prince begins to cry because, as a statue, he can see the poverty and suffering of the people around him. Despite once being a joyful prince, the misery he witnesses fills him with sorrow.

Why does the swallow stay with the Happy Prince instead of flying south?

The swallow initially stays with the Happy Prince because he gets lost during his migration. After meeting the prince and understanding his plight, the swallow decides to remain with him and help, even though he is supposed to fly south for the winter.

How does the Happy Prince help the sick child in the story?

The Happy Prince asks the swallow to pluck the ruby from his dagger and take it to a poor family with a sick child. By selling the ruby, they can afford the medicine the child needs to recover.

What sacrifices does the Happy Prince make for others?

The Happy Prince sacrifices his precious jewels, including his ruby and two sapphire eyes, to help people in need. Later, he gives away gold leaf from his body to assist the poor and homeless, diminishing his appearance but bringing happiness to others.

Why does the swallow decide not to leave the prince despite the winter cold?

The swallow grows deeply attached to the Happy Prince, admiring his kindness and generosity. Despite the harsh winter, he refuses to leave the prince and stays by his side, even becoming his eyes as the prince loses his sight.

What happens to the statue of the Happy Prince at the end of the story?

The statue of the Happy Prince is torn down by the villagers, who find its appearance unappealing after the prince's sacrifices have left it disfigured. It is cast into the fire, but the prince's lead heart and the swallow’s body remain, symbolizing their enduring virtues.

What does the story suggest about the true meaning of happiness?

The story suggests that true happiness comes from selflessness and compassion for others, rather than material wealth or external appearances. The Happy Prince and the swallow embody this by sacrificing everything they have to help those in need.

How do the characters' actions reflect the themes of sacrifice and love?

The characters, particularly the Happy Prince and the swallow, demonstrate sacrifice and love through their willingness to give up their own comfort, wealth, and even their lives to improve the lives of others. Their actions exemplify unconditional love and devotion.

What role does God play in the story's conclusion?

At the end of the story, God recognizes the selflessness of the Happy Prince and the swallow. He calls them the two most beautiful things on Earth, bringing them to Heaven where they will live eternally, shedding tears for the suffering of the world.