From time to time, my friends may ask me what my favourite story is. “After all,” they would add, “you do read so much.”
(Which I don’t, not really, not anymore. I have become one of them Adults I feared so of transforming into when I was a kid; an Adult who had More Important Things To Do and did not possess All The Time In The World; O how the child in me laments!)
And I’ve been hard-pressed to answer this question, as the answer may change at each turn; indeed I am nothing if not capricious and tiresomely inconsistent. Yet today, as I was walking with my boo along a street filled with Christmas trees and fairy lights, as the heart-warming smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted over and beckoned to us, this story came to mind. A story which, in some ways, begins with this particular scene for me:
“Who are you?” he said.
“I am the Happy Prince.”
“Why are you weeping then?” asked the Swallow; “you have quite drenched me.”
“When I was alive and had a human heart,” answered the statue, “I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans- Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot chose but weep.”
Oscar Wilde wrote “The Happy Prince” in the 1880s, and till today, no other story has quite captured my heart. It’s a fairy tale for children, yet ethereal enough that adults will be moved (or perhaps unnerved). Sacrifice, love, generosity, faith in humankind. It tells us everything we need to know about Life, or rather, everything we need to believe about ourselves.
A reader once told me that even during the most trying depths of my blog, the worst of times, she could see the eternal optimist in me coming through. I know of no other story that demonstrates my belief in the goodness present every day in us, of the kindness of strangers, of the magic of just one perfect friendship than this story.
Tis the season of love. Let it ring in with Joy and Hope, my friends.
Merry Christmas, Everybody! Ho, ho, ho! 
[ Read “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde here. ]
29 Comments
Thanks for that story on a working Friday morning. Well, that’s the irony of life, isn’t it. A human heart left “untouched” and a lead “heart” that could only weep. Goes to show that we should love (and hopefully be loved) to maximise the use of our human hearts.
The past months were so hard for me. Though I generally believe that there’s good in every person, I found myself becoming bitter, resentful and distrusting. But the kind words of this stranger (Kenny, that’s you!) helped bring back the optimist in me
Have a Merry Christmas bro
P/S: I love this story too.
Nic (KHKL)
I like how you put it, bro — love to maximise the use of our human hearts. To be more compassionate not just to others, but ourselves as well. I feel it’s not simply Xmas but the Year’s End, that we’ve another chance to forgive others and ourselves and learn from the twelve months prior and renew all that is good in our lives.
Piggles
There will always be trying times, my dear. I have had my fair share of them this year, but I believe the good times will always come after the bad. We should always feed and care for the Optimist in us.
Glad you like this classic too. *hugs*
I find this story - the Happy Prince rather sad. I don’t think I enjoy reading it - I can’t remember the ending though.
Oh, I love the Happy Prince too! It was such an adult story about love and loss and death and loyalty. As a kid, I didn’t understand it but as an adult rereading it, it had so many layers.
Oscar Wilde wrote this?? The man who said “I have nothing to declare but my genius”?? It’s a good thing I didn’t know this when I read this book when I was but an innocent child of 8.
Aiyah. Merry Christmas la Kenny. Have a good one aar.
gina
It is rather sad, but do give it a another try… reading the ending gives closure to all the sadness that comes before.
Xeus
Yes, it does, many layers that I keep discovering new ones every time I read it. And that is the mark of a good story, is it not?
Lyrical Lemongrass
I can’t imagine you ever being innocent, dear, even at eight…
Merry Xmas my Lady… We’ll both have a very good one, most assuredly so, with our loved ones and the loves of our lives, no? *hugs*
I remember reading this story a long long time ago. Thanks for refreshing all our memories!
Have a lovely Christmas and New Year!
Thnk God 4 gprs in cell phones..if nt,i dont think i’ll b able 2 read ur blog my friend. De 3rd quarter of d yr hav been realy tough n trying.Many times i’ve almost wanted 2 giv up,to call it quits.But sumhow i’m stil holding on.. Mayb i dont want 2 face the consequences tht comes after a breakup.. mayb i’m jst afraid.The year’s almost coming 2 an end..how it will end 4 me,i honestly dont noe. I’m stil hoping tht it will turn out alright in the end..i really do.
Pray n hope for me my dear dear friend..
Ohh.. Merry Xmas to you Kenny dear! I’ll cya..erm.. Next year?
Merry Christmas Kenny
Took your advice and did BC and BS yesterday. Haha.
wokandspoon
It was a long, long time ago for me too… but a classic’s a classic, no? It’s always good no matter how long ago it has been.
Spiffy
Fear is normal and comes to the best of us. Uncertainty is one of the most difficult things to face. Coupled together, it’s quite a challenge… yet do believe that you have friends who care for you and wish you the best, cos you do.
Always keeping a place for you in my prayers, dear. *big hugs*
Piggles
I’ve been to the gym almost every day this week… Saturday’s my first breather in a while… Ah, somewhere down the line I became a gym addict… hehe.
Merry Xmas to you too!
Oh, forgot to wish you all, Happy Princely Merry Xmas!
We always have better things to do, and don’t seem to have time. But when you really think about it, we just need another good book. And about the time factor, adults spend average 5 to 7 hours sleeping. If only humans don’t have to sleep and rest, we gain 5 to 7 hours a day!
Hmm…I thought SOMEONE wasn’t afraid of admitting to being a gym junkie? Or are you burning the calories before pigging out
Xeus
Happy Prince-ly Merry Xmas to you too, dear! *sniggers*
teckie
Yes, well, I tend to sleep 7 to 9 hours a day, but that’s a conundrum for another time!
Would love to have all the time to just lounge around and read books though. And go to gym. Ahem.
Piggles
Uhm… Ahh… *looks at above*
Well…
I need to cut down on the gym-ming actually… I’m all skin and bones, haha…
merry x’mas!!!
hey kenny, wishing you and your loved ones happy christmas, enjoy da holidays yah!
dont know why..reading this reminds me of The Little Prince..
merry christmas to u!
carrot, MeiyeN and sc
Merry Christmas to you lovely ladies!
And yes, there’s a little of the melancholic strands from “The Little Prince” present here too, or is it the other way round, since this is the older story of the two? Hmm…
Hey bro,
Wish you a Merry X’mas and of course, a wonderful year ahead! Enjoy your holidays!:)
I’ve always wanted to get my grubby paws on that book. Merriest Christmas Kenny!! May your happiest 2007 will be your crappiest 2008!
Big, fat, hugs and a half,
Leen
Oh, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year, Kenny dear!!
Merry Christmas!
Just popping in to wish you happy holidays!
Dropping by to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Joyful New Year!
Merry xmas kenny!!!! *hugz*
that is such a sad story… =(
i once read a ‘mr. happy’ (kiddy) book about a kingdom where happiness is prohibited. it’s very much the opposite of wilde’s book, but it shows that to live, you can’t be only happy and only sad. =P
kenny, you are one of the most optimistic people i know. stay cool. ^_^
merry belated christmas! =)
Kok, Leen, Xeus, picatho, Rasa Malaysia, Alice & nicolesulee
Thanks for popping by and Season’s Greetings to you fine folks too!
zatyness
It is a sad story, but also one of the most hopeful ones I know. Maybe that’s why it’s my favourite story ever — it’s a story about second chances and how we all, no matter how small we think we are, have the ability to make someone else’s life better. We most certainly do.
Incoming Links
Leave a Reply