The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde

Read and discuss classic short stories.
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hermione123
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Re: The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde

Post by hermione123 »

When I read this as a kid, I dismissed it as just a story..but now it seems so much more
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raindropwriter
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Post by raindropwriter »

Aww! thanks for posting this story. Feeling sad right now. "the living always think that gold can make them happy." I have heard a lot about oscar wilde and now I know why.
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aysha_yh
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Post by aysha_yh »

I love this story so much!
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ipekbunsal
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Post by ipekbunsal »

I remember reading this one as a little kid :)
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Post by Hadiqa »

I read that a lot when I was younger and I loved it! I really liked the character of the bird (sparrow I think) and how the happy prince gives away everything for his people.
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PG47
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Post by PG47 »

When I was a kid I often used to hear a recording of this story on the radio. That was a long time ago and my memory can't be trusted but I think it was read by Bing Crosby (of all people). Anyway, it always made me cry.
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ankita_m
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Post by ankita_m »

I love Oscar Wilde's stories. The picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorites. It is a classic that sets itself apart from all others (at least the ones that i have read so far). I haven't enjoyed the short stories to the same extent, although that is not to say that I don't like them.

I don't know if I am it making it complicated but when I read "The Happy Prince", I thought Wilde was questioning what does it mean to be happy.

"... and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness"

'It is curious,' he remarked, 'but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.'

When was the happy prince really happy? Was it when he was alive or was it when he was helping others?

I must say, every time I read one Wilde's story, it gives me a new perspective.
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Circling Turtle
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Post by Circling Turtle »

Thank you for sharing this story, it is one of my favourites. I agree that Wilde is questioning the nature of happiness, and also exploring the idea of ignorance being bliss. For if we are all truly aware of one another's suffering, how can we be happy?
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farah
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Post by farah »

I almost forgot the bitter/sweet feeling I have every time I read it. Truly a classic!
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Post by literaturelover »

I love Oscar Wilde as much as I love Jane Austen :)
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Post by CzechTigg »

So much of the Wilde genius still to read for me. He really was remarkable, and sadly ahead of his time in being persecuted just for having a minority sexuality.

The Stephen Fry film of his life is very good also.
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Post by stanley »

I will admit that I don't quite know how to take this story. On the one hand it drips with treacle, so much so that one wonders if Wilde,(that rascal), is putting us on. It's interesting that early in the story that the swallow is preoccupied with his impossible infatuation with the reed, an affection so irrational that even he finally abandons it, though for reasons of perceived incompatibility rather than because there are in real life no prospects for romance between swallows and reeds. I don't want to find myself in the camp of the severe mathematics professor here,who does not approve of children dreaming, he is obviously one of the bad guys as are city councilmen, the beautiful young lady aristocrat who deplores lazy seamstresses, the watchmen who kicks the homeless kids out into the rain et al.
So what to do? Give the story its due, as far as one's own sensibilities go, perhaps, and grant that in the face of all that is mysterious, beautiful and to be marveled at, human misery is the greatest mystery of all.
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TheMightyBookworm42
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Post by TheMightyBookworm42 »

AdamWest wrote:Oscar Wilde is one of my favorite authors ever
I agree! What a beautiful, bittersweet story.
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Post by mewsmash »

Not my favorite of his works, but definitely has a charming aura about it.
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sugan 52
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Post by sugan 52 »

a thought provoking and simple story. It shows that nothing is permanent and that change is inevitable. The last sentence reveals that god weighs the right and the wrong in a perfect scale and in his kingdom all are equal.
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