Story Summary
Discover Oscar Wilde's The Star-Child, a poignant tale of a beautiful boy who learns humility and mercy after a fall from grace and a quest for redemption.
One winter night, two woodcutters found a baby wrapped in a cloak of gold tissue, dropped from a falling star. One woodcutter took the child home, raising him alongside his own children. The Star-Child grew to be unimaginably beautiful, but his beauty made him vain, cruel, and proud. He mocked the poor and tortured animals, believing himself superior. One day, a ragged beggar woman arrived, claiming to be his mother. Revulsed by her appearance, he cruelly drove her away. Immediately, his beauty vanished, replaced by a face like a toad and scales like an adder. Realizing his sin, he wandered the world for three years seeking her forgiveness. Eventually, he was captured by an evil Magician who tasked him with finding three pieces of gold: white, yellow, and red. Each time he found a coin, he gave it to a starving leper instead of the Magician. This final act of selfless mercy restored his beauty and revealed his true identity as the son of a King and Queen. He ruled with justice and love, though his reign was short, for he had suffered much.
The Moral
True beauty is found in kindness and humility of heart, while vanity and cruelty transform the soul into something hideous.
“He who is cruel to the creatures of the Earth is cruel also to the Father of all.”
Fun Fact
Oscar Wilde included this story in 'A House of Pomegranates,' a collection he claimed was 'intended neither for the British child nor the British public' due to its complex themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the moral of The Star-Child?
The story teaches that outward beauty is worthless without inner goodness. It emphasizes that true nobility is earned through suffering, repentance, and acts of selfless compassion for others.
Why did the Star-Child lose his beauty?
He lost his beauty as a physical manifestation of his internal cruelty. After he heartlessly rejected his mother because she was a beggar, his face became like a toad's to reflect his ugly soul.
Who are the Star-Child's real parents?
His mother was the beggar woman he initially rejected, who was actually a Queen searching for her lost son. His father was the King of the city he arrived at during the story's climax.
What tasks did the magician give the Star-Child?
The Magician demanded the Star-Child find three hidden pieces of gold: white gold, yellow gold, and red gold. He faced severe punishment if he failed, yet he gave each coin away to a leper in need.
How does the Star-Child's character change?
He begins as a narcissistic and cruel boy who values only aesthetics. Through his period of suffering and wandering, he develops deep empathy, eventually sacrificing his own safety to help a stranger.
How does the story of The Star-Child end?
The Star-Child is crowned King after his identity is revealed, and he rules with great mercy. However, the story ends on a somber note, stating he ruled only three years because his past suffering had exhausted him.
