The Happy Prince

The Happy Prince is a statue of gold and jewels which looks down on a city, but he is not as happy as the people think. When a small bird takes shelter under the figure, she realizes that the statue is crying. The prince explains that when he was alive he knew nothing of poverty and sadness, but now he can see it all around the city. The bird really should return to a warmer climate but she stays to help the prince. She takes a jewel from his belt and gives it to a poor dressmaker. Then the prince tells her to take one of his eyes, made of beautiful Indian stones, and give it to a poor writer. Then he tells her to take his other eye and give it to a poor girl. As the prince is now blind, the bird decides to stay with him. She dies of the cold, and the prince’s metal heart cracks with sadness. The people pull the statue down and burn it, all except for the heart which refuses to burn. They throw this and the dead bird away. These are taken into heaven because they are the two best things in the city.