The Happy Prince

272 Words2 Pages
It is also a very timely tale at a time of controversy over the increasing chasm between rich and poor. The Happy Prince has lived a life of opulence but has died young and his soul inhabits a beautiful ruby encrusted statue covered all over in gold leaf. From his perch high above the city he is witness to all the poverty, misery, and hopelessness in which his people have been living. During the nineteenth century, a big gap between the rich and the poor was considered as a serious issue of the society. Living in that period of time, the author saw the unfairness of life via many ironic situation with his own eyes. Thefore, he wrote “The Happy Prince”. Moreover, Wilde illustrated the role played by money in society which made people forget about feelings and good actions, for intances: "The living always think that gold can make them happy". It seemed the author criticized high class people. He did not tell any particular city’s name because the city in the story was represented for any cities, any places where still happend class distinction at that time. From there, the author showed his desire of clearing the great distance of the rich and the poor for a better and happier future in the society. His attitude of “Art for art’s sake” expressed effectively throughout the story. When alive, the Prince lived an indulgent, happy life inside the castle walls, never knowing what happened in the world outside. Now, standing on his tall column in the middle of the city, the Prince is saddened by the misery he sees
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