Oscar Wilde

“The Star-Child” is a fantastic tale by Oscar Wilde published in 1891 in the collection A House of Pomegranates. During a harsh winter, two woodcutters find a child abandoned in the forest, wrapped in a golden cloak and wearing an amber chain. Although one wants to leave him there, the other decides to take him home, where the boy grows into a young man of unusual beauty. However, his appearance does not reflect his character: the Star-child is vain and cruel; he despises others and harshly treats the poor and afflicted. The Star-Child’s arrogance and selfishness soon lead him to face harsh consequences.

“The Devoted Friend” is a short story by Oscar Wilde, published in 1888 in the collection The Happy Prince and Other Tales. Presented as a fable within a fable, the story begins when a lark tells a water rat and a duck the story of little Hans, a kind-hearted young man who carefully tends his garden and maintains an unequal relationship with a miller who takes advantage of his generosity and unconditional devotion. Through this allegorical structure, Wilde critiques the hypocrisy and selfishness hidden behind discourses of virtue, and shows how true friendship can be corrupted by self-interest and manipulation.