Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

The Star-Child by Oscar Wilde

2 reviews

timmytunter's review

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dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oscar Wilde’s The Star-Child is a captivating collection of short stories that I found to be a heady mix of bittersweetness, sentimentality, romance, melancholy, and humour. Wilde’s ability to delve into the complexities of human nature is impressive, and his stories often left me reflecting on the value of love and kindness over ambition and vanity.

Two of the standout stories for me were The Happy Prince and The Selfish Giant. These stories are filled with deep emotional resonance and a strong moral core, offering readers a glimpse into the power of love and selflessness. The Happy Prince particularly struck me with its portrayal of a statue who, despite being adored by all for its beauty, finds true fulfillment only in sacrificing itself for the welfare of others. Similarly, The Selfish Giant offers a beautiful allegory on the importance of generosity and how love can transform even the coldest of hearts.

On the other hand, The Young King felt somewhat forgettable. While it contains Wilde’s characteristic wit and social commentary, it didn’t resonate with me as strongly as some of the other stories in the collection. However, this does little to diminish the overall impact of the book. 

What struck me most about Wilde’s writing is his ability to articulate the subtle nuances of human behaviour that many of us can relate to. For instance, in The Birthday of the Infanta, Wilde captures the pretensions of human behaviour with a touch of humour:
They did not understand a single word of what he was saying, but that made no matter, for they put their heads on one side, and looked wise, which is quite as good as understanding a thing, and very much easier.

Wilde’s shrewd observations of human foibles are both amusing and insightful, and he often addresses these flaws in clever ways. In The Remarkable Rocket, his satirical wit shines through in the character of the Rocket, who embodies self-centredness and vanity to a comical degree:
‘You are a very irritating person,’ said the Rocket, ‘and very ill-bred. I hate people who talk about themselves, as you do, when one wants to talk about oneself, as I do. It is what I call selfishness, and selfishness is a most detestable thing, especially to any one of my temperament, for I am well known for my sympathetic nature.’

Overall, I rate The Star-Boy 4 out of 5 stars. While not every story is equally memorable, Wilde’s ability to blend humour with melancholy and his keen insight into human nature make this collection well worth reading. You may not always find a happy ending in these tales, but you will undoubtedly be left contemplating the complexities of the human condition and the enduring value of love and kindness.
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mysafe_place's review

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I loved all of these stories so so much. I may be a bit biased because I thoroughly enjoy everything Oscar writes but these stories have simply shown me again exactly why I love whatever this man created. The tale of the nightingale was outstanding even if it was so simple, vivid language and a sacrifice of a lovable character,  just everything a heartbreaking yet inspiring (short)story needs. Besides that I relished the story of the selfish giant since its ending actually made me gasp. But honestly, one can read any of those tales and find something enjoyable. Highly suggest reading it! An easily approachable classic.
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