The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde is a short story. It’s part of The Happy Prince and Other Tales collection. This fairytale like story is about a giant who has banned everyone from entering his beautiful garden. His ban has left the garden in a perpetual winter while the weather changes normally outside of it. One day, a few kids manage to enter the garden, bringing in spring with them.
A giant returns home from his trip to find children playing in his garden and yard; he gets angry and drives them all away. He puts up notices to warn trespassers of punishment if they try to enter his premises. The absence of children leads to the garden being in a constant state of winter while the seasons continue as normal outside of it. One day, some children manage to enter the garden, and the giant, now old, enjoys having them around. Then a small boy he befriended suddenly stops coming to the garden, and years pass by. As the giant grows old, he sees the boy outside one winter, but is surprised to see the wounds on his hands and feet. Enraged, the giant offers to avenge him, but the boy refuses.
This story hinges on the themes of real love and compassion. It starts to come through with the softening of the giant’s heart. When he helps the smallest kid and the kids embraces the giant, showing the other kids that the giant has changed. It indicates the capacity for change in humans or even adults. The story also shows the direct comparison between adult coldness and the pure innocence of children. Moreover, there is a link between nature’s natural order of seasons and children’s happiness, portraying that nature itself is congenial rather than isolating.
There is a lot of Christian symbolism throughout the story. The smallest boy is a Christlike figure in the story; he is the saviour figure offering a chance of forgiveness. The garden is a symbol for the Garden of Eden; the high walls around her garden denote emotional barriers or even sins. Since the story is set in Victorian times, the materialistic and emotional aloofness makes these symbols more relevant or specific to that time period. I liked the narrative flow of the story; it has a rhythmic quality to it and keeps you engaged in it.
The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde is a philosophical and spiritual fairytale short story. Although it is mainly for children, I think it gives adults a lot to think about as well. I always enjoy Oscar Wilde’s writing, and this story was no different. I really liked it.
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