Language

Style of language

The language of the short story “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde is formal. The style in the narrative is similar to the style used in the dialogue. Both use no contractions and are serious and solemn. This shows that the purpose of the story is not to build up characters with unique voices, but rather to get a message across. The serious tone also denotes that the author is serious about the topic. The language is also typical of fairy-tales, which sometimes choose a more solemn style to express their message.

However, despite the apparent seriousness with which the author treats the topic, there are many instances of humor in the story. Most of the humor comes in the form of irony. For instance, the name given to the main character, which is also the title of the story - “The Happy Prince”, is ironic, considering that the statue of the prince is anything but happy. The name of the statue is “The Happy Prince” to commemorate the fact that he was happy during his lifetime. However, once he is able to see what goes on in the city, he suffers quietly for all the misery he witnesses. 

Another instance of irony can be found in the superficial attitude of the town officials, who praise the Happy Pr...