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Happiness Begins Where Selfishness Ends

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Happiness Begins Where Selfishness Ends
[ Happiness begins where selfishness ends] | "I have learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances. - Martha Washington

Ekaterina Paul
10/11/2012
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Oscar Wild presents two conflicts between the stories of "The Selfish Giant" and "The Happy Prince". The two main points is the giant being selfish and the happy prince being a helping hand to the poor society. These stories teach us realistic lessons in life, that selfishness and charity do not collide with each other. Oscar Wilde shows that consequences of the selfish giant and that you will get nowhere in life if you treat people only for your own benefit. The story of "The Happy Prince" argues the statements made in the selfish giant can be overthrown. Wilde shows the lesson of charity is more powerful then the unselfish love of the selfish giant. I shall argue that helping people to see the advantage of the happiness in your and their hearts is the most important thing in life and that taking the time could save someone. From my experience when I went to West Virginia on a mission trip I realized how happy it made me feel when the community smiled upon our helping hands. They realized that all people don 't treat others with disregard. This quote will present that the giant is waiting for change but he doesn 't realize he needs to change in order for the life around him to change. "I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming, said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; I hope there will be change in the weather" (Wilde 35). In addition, "The Selfish Giant" shows the main characteristic is being selfish. Oscar Wild reveals that the giant is a representative of the world, but the world is a symbol of selfishness and Oscar Wilde shows that a person living in



Cited: Wilde, Oscar. Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde. New York: New American Library, 2008

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