Perspectives

Literary movement

The story “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde is an allegory. An allegory is a story through which the author intends to send a message, usually moral or political. The message is not explicitly stated within the narrative, but it becomes more or less obvious upon finishing the text. Usually, allegories with a moral message end with the triumph of good over evil, or the punishment of evil and the rewarding of the good. From this perspective, this story is a bit atypical. The main characters do receive their reward for good behavior, but it is not in this lifetime. They actually meet their death as a direct result of their good intentions, but they are ultimately rewarded by God after their passing. Therefore, the story can be considered a Christian allegory, especially in light of the theme of s...