Summary

The Selfish Giant is a heartwarming story written by Oscar Wilde. It tells the tale of a selfish Giant who owns a beautiful garden where children love to play. The garden is full of blooming flowers, singing birds, and trees laden with fruit. Every afternoon, the children come to play there, enjoying the beauty of the place.

However, when the Giant returns home after a long absence, he is angered to see the children playing in his garden. He chases them away and builds a high wall around the garden, forbidding anyone from entering. The children, heartbroken, can only watch from outside the garden, wishing they could return.

As time passes, Spring arrives, but the garden remains frozen in Winter. No flowers bloom, and the trees do not bear fruit because the children are no longer there to play. The Giant wonders why his garden does not have the beauty of the changing seasons, and he is perplexed as to why Spring never comes. One day, as he lies in bed, he hears sweet music and notices the Hail and North Wind have stopped roaring. To his astonishment, he sees the children sneaking through a small hole in the wall. As they enter the garden, the trees begin to blossom, the birds start singing, and flowers bloom.

However, one corner of the garden remains frozen, and the Giant notices a small boy struggling to climb a tree. The boy is too small to reach the branches, even though the tree tries to lower them for him. The Giant’s heart melts, and he realizes how selfish he has been. He breaks down the wall to let the children play in the garden freely. He helps the little boy climb the tree, and as a gesture of thanks, the boy kisses the Giant on the cheek.

From that day on, the garden is filled with Spring, and the children return to play. The Giant is no longer selfish, and he enjoys playing with the children every afternoon. However, the little boy is never seen again. Years later, when the Giant is old and weak, he sees the boy again standing under a tree covered in golden blossoms. The boy’s hands show the marks of nails, and when the Giant expresses anger at the sight of the wounds, the boy tells him they are the wounds of love. The boy invites the Giant to come to his garden, which is paradise. The next day, the children find the Giant lying dead under the tree, covered in white blossoms.

Conclusion of The Selfish Giant

The story of The Selfish Giant teaches us the importance of kindness, selflessness, and love. The Giant’s transformation from a selfish, isolated figure to someone who spreads happiness and love shows how we should open our hearts to others. By doing so, we make the world around us a happier and more beautiful place. The story also suggests that love and compassion bring true joy and fulfillment.