27 things from this book went into her brain. Here are the first 6.
In The Happy Prince, Wilde mocks a statue that is admired for its looks but judged as if its only worth were usefulness, a reminder that people are worth more than how they look or what they produce.
In The Happy Prince, the Swallow drops the Reed once autumn comes and she no longer suits him, a sharp look at loyalty that only lasts while it is convenient.
In The Happy Prince, the Swallow calls the rain the Reed's selfishness and only stops to care once he looks up and sees the Prince weeping. Attention to others changes how we judge things.
In The Happy Prince, Wilde shows that the Prince only sees the misery of his city once he is dead and set up high above it. A comfortable life can keep us from seeing other people's suffering.
In The Happy Prince, the Swallow feels warm after doing a good action, and the Prince tells him that is the reason. Generosity tends to reward the giver as well as the receiver.
In The Happy Prince, the Prince gives away his own eyes to help a match-girl, and the Swallow gives up Egypt to stay with him. Wilde shows that real love is measured by what we are willing to give.
In The Happy Prince, the Prince asks the Swallow to report what he sees in the city, calling human suffering the greatest mystery. Looking honestly at hardship comes before we can help.
In The Happy Prince, the Swallow dies out of loyalty and the Prince strips off his gold for the poor. Wilde suggests that generosity can cost everything and still be worth it.
In The Happy Prince, the Mayor and Councillors tear the statue down as soon as it looks shabby, while God values the leaden heart and dead bird most. Wilde shows that public praise follows appearance, but true worth lies in self-giving.
In The Nightingale and the Rose, the Student's whole misery rests on one red rose, showing how easily we make a small thing the centre of our happiness.
In The Nightingale and the Rose, Wilde has the Nightingale say that love cannot be bought in the marketplace or weighed for gold. It is worth remembering when we are tempted to treat relationships as transactions.
In The Nightingale and the Rose, the Nightingale gives her life so the Student can have his rose, judging love to be worth more than life itself. Wilde asks what we would really give up for the things we want most.
In The Nightingale and the Rose, the Student dismisses the Nightingale as all style and no sincerity because she does not serve any practical purpose. Wilde warns us that judging by usefulness alone can make us miss real feeling.
In The Selfish Giant, the Giant builds a high wall around his garden and shuts out the children who loved to play there. Wilde shows how keeping good things to ourselves can cost us the joy we could share.
In The Selfish Giant, the Giant realises how selfish he has been and tears down his wall, and the Spring returns. Wilde shows that a change of heart can bring joy back, even after a long winter.
In The Selfish Giant, the old Giant says the children are the most beautiful flowers of all, showing that we find the most joy in the people we make room for.
In The Devoted Friend, the Miller talks grandly about unselfish friendship while only ever taking from Hans. Wilde shows the gap between what people say about loyalty and what they actually do.
In The Devoted Friend, the Miller keeps away when Hans is in hardship and calls it respect for his troubles. Wilde suggests a friend is judged by how they show up when times are hard, not by their fine words.
In The Devoted Friend, the Miller claims to protect Hans from temptation while keeping him at a distance. Wilde shows how easily we excuse our own selfishness with fine reasons.
In The Devoted Friend, the Miller's gifts always come with a bill attached, so every favour becomes a debt. Wilde shows that generosity which expects a return is really a trade.
In The Devoted Friend, the Miller hides behind 'honest' criticism to pressure Hans into giving more. A real friend respects your time and your needs as well as your words.
In The Devoted Friend, the Miller's funeral speech is all about himself, and his real regret is the wheelbarrow he no longer has to give. Wilde shows how to watch what people actually mourn when they say they care.
In The Remarkable Rocket, a little Squib boasts that travel has cured all his prejudices, and a wiser Roman Candle reminds him the world is far bigger than the King's garden. Wilde mocks the big talk of those who have seen very little.
In The Remarkable Rocket, the vain Rocket insists he is the most sensitive creature alive, yet he thinks only of himself. Wilde shows that people who talk most about their feelings are often the least attentive to others.
In The Remarkable Rocket, self-pity leaves the Rocket too damp to go off at all, while his relations shine. Wilde shows how self-absorption can stop us doing the very thing we were made for.
In The Remarkable Rocket, the Rocket looks down on useful work and says only the idle labour, yet the plain usefulness of the Duck is worth more. Wilde reminds us that a life of contribution beats a life of display.
In The Remarkable Rocket, the Rocket ends by boasting that he created a great sensation, though nobody even saw him go off. Wilde warns against mistaking noise and self-importance for real achievement.
