“The Selfish Giant” is a classic short story by Oscar Wilde, first published in 1888. The story tells the tale of a giant who owns a beautiful garden but refuses to share it with anyone. His selfishness causes winter to linger in the garden, and the trees do not blossom, and the birds do not sing. However, when the giant has a change of heart and opens the garden to the children once more, he learns a valuable lesson about the power of kindness and generosity. The story is a timeless reminder that true happiness can only be found in love and compassion, and that it is never too late to make a positive change in one’s life.
The Story:
The story begins with a giant who owns a beautiful garden. One day, the giant decides to build a high wall around it to keep the children out. He believes that the garden is his alone and doesn’t want to share it with anyone. As a result of the giant’s selfishness, spring refuses to visit the garden. Winter lingers, and the snow falls heavily, year after year. The trees do not blossom, and the birds do not sing. The giant’s garden is the only place in the world where it is always winter.
One day, the giant hears a little bird singing outside his window. He realizes he has been selfish and mean to the children. He knocks down the wall and opens the garden to the children once more. The next day, the garden is transformed. The sun shines brightly, and flowers of every color burst from the ground. The birds sing with joy, and the children play happily in the garden.
However, there is one corner of the garden that remains untouched by spring. In this corner, there is a little boy standing all alone. The giant approaches him and asks why he doesn’t play with the others. The boy replies that he cannot play because he is too small and cannot reach the branches of the trees to pick the fruit.
The giant feels sorry for him and decides to help him. He lifts the boy onto his shoulders so that he can reach the branches and pick the fruit. The boy kisses the giant’s cheek, and suddenly the giant’s heart grows warm with love. From then on, he plays with the children every day, and the garden remains beautiful and full of life.
Years pass, and the giant grows old. One winter, he is lying in his bed when he hears the same little bird singing outside his window. He knows that his time has come and that he will leave this world soon.
As the giant passes away, the children see that he has become like a child again, and his body transforms into a statue of gold. From then on, the statue stands in the garden, and the children know that the giant is still watching over them with love.
Conclusion:
“The Selfish Giant” is a heartwarming story about the power of kindness and the importance of sharing. The giant learns that true happiness can only be found in love and generosity, and his transformation at the end of the story is a testament to the power of these virtues.
The Moral:
The moral of “The Selfish Giant” is that selfishness leads to misery, while kindness and generosity bring joy and happiness.
