What are the precious things mentioned in Oscar Wilde's story 'The Happy Prince'?

Question

Accepted Answer

In Oscar Wilde's story "The Happy Prince," the precious things mentioned are indeed the leaden heart and the dead bird, as indicated in Option 3. Here's a detailed explanation supporting this choice:

1. **Explanation for Option 3: The leaden heart and the dead bird**
   - At the end of the story, when the statue of the Happy Prince is dismantled, the leaden heart does not melt in the furnace and is discarded. Similarly, the swallow, who had become the Prince's companion and helped him in his acts of kindness, dies from the cold. These two elements, the leaden heart and the dead bird, are taken by God’s angels as the most precious things in the city. This highlights the theme of selflessness and sacrifice, as both the heart and the bird symbolize the true spirit of love and compassion.

2. **Explanation for why the other options are incorrect:**

- **Option 1: The statue of the happy prince**
     - While the statue of the Happy Prince is initially adorned with gold and jewels, it is not considered precious by the end of the story. The townspeople strip it of its gold and jewels, and it is ultimately melted down. The statue itself is not what is deemed precious; rather, it is the heart within that holds true value.

- **Option 2: A large red ruby**
     - The large red ruby is one of the jewels that adorned the statue of the Happy Prince. It is given away by the Prince to help the poor, demonstrating his generosity. However, the ruby itself is not considered one of the most precious things by the end of the story. The focus is on the acts of kindness and the spirit behind them, not the material wealth.

- **Option 4: The happy prince and the swallow**
     - While the Happy Prince and the swallow are central characters in the story, the option does not specifically refer to the elements that are deemed precious at the end. The story emphasizes the leaden heart and the dead bird as the most precious things, symbolizing the enduring value of love and sacrifice beyond physical appearances or status.

In conclusion, Option 3 is correct because it captures the essence of the story's moral: the true value lies in selfless love and sacrifice, as represented by the leaden heart and the dead bird.