NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Chapter 14 – The Happy Prince

The prince was dubbed "the Happy Prince" by his courtiers because he was constantly cheerful. He had no idea what tears were when he was alive since he lived in a palace where sorrow was forbidden. When he died and was turned into a statue, however, he was not happy, and tears streamed down his face when he saw the devastation of his city. He could see all of the city's sadness and depravity from his vantage point.

The Happy Prince donated a ruby to the seamstress since she was desperately destitute and couldn't feed her feverish child. The swallow went to the seamstress's house after being convinced by the prince. The swallow kept the ruby on the table where the woman worked since she had fallen asleep. He then flew around the bed, his wings brushing the boy's forehead. This helped the youngster feel at ease, and he fell asleep as a result.

The sapphires were sent for two people by the Happy Prince: the young writer from across the city and the match girl. The young playwright was attempting to complete a play for the theatre's director. He couldn't write any longer because he was too cold, there was no fire in the grate, and hunger had rendered him unconscious. He gave the sapphire to the young playwright for him to sell it to a jeweler, purchase firewood, and finish the play. The Happy Prince then noticed a small match girl standing right below him in the square. She had dropped her matches in the gutter, and they were all ruined as a result. The Prince was well aware that if she did not bring home some money, her father would beat her. When The little girl hurried home, pleased after the swallow slid the jewel into her palm laughing.

The swallow witnessed the dramatic contrast between plenty and poverty as it flew over the city. It showed wealthy guys having a good time while ignorant to the condition of the impoverished down the street. The poor's situation reached a bottom when cops patrolling the streets denied them even a good night's sleep.

He had gone blind since the price had taken away his two sapphire eyes. As a result, the swallow resolved to remain with the prince at all times. It's possible that the swallow was so moved by the prince's generosity that he chose to stay instead of flying to Egypt to be with his buddies. This implies that kind-hearted people always attract friends who will be with them for the rest of their lives.

The leaden heart of the happy prince and the dead bird are listed as valuable items in the story. They are valuable because both the happy prince and the swallow were generous, altruistic, and kind. The prince couldn't endure seeing his city's ugliness, sadness, and suffering, so he gave away all of his valuable stones and gold to make his people happy. Similarly, the swallow forewent his trip to Egypt to serve as the prince's messenger, delivering rare stones and gold to the poor and spreading joy. Even though the prince was blind, he loved him so much that he never abandoned him, even as the weather grew colder and colder as winter approached. He died at the feet of the monument when he could no longer stand the cold, and the statue loved him so much that its leaden heart burst in two. That is why, when God requested one of the angels to bring him the two precious things in the garden, the angel brought the leaden heart and the dead bird, and God replied that the small bird would sing forever in his garden of Paradise, and the Happy Prince would glorify God in the city of gold.