The Happy Prince ||Moments|| Class 9 English Chapter 5
Summary Of The Happy Prince
The story revolves around a beautiful statue of a prince, known as the Happy Prince, who stands high in the city. After his death, he realizes the suffering faced by the poor people living around him. The statue, adorned with gold and jewels, feels sorrow for their plight.
One night, a little swallow, who is resting near the statue, hears the prince's lament. The Happy Prince asks the swallow to help the needy by taking his riches—gold leaf and precious gems—to them. The swallow, moved by the prince's kindness, begins to assist, giving away the decorations to those in need.
The prince and the swallow continue this selfless work until the prince is stripped of his beauty and the swallow, exhausted from helping others, dies at the foot of the statue. Eventually, the townspeople decide to remove the statue, seeing it as unworthy due to its loss of splendor. When they do, they find the Happy Prince's heart, made of lead, which cannot be broken or melted.
The story concludes with the message that true happiness lies in selflessness and compassion, as both the prince and the swallow find joy in helping others.