Narrator and point of view

The short story “The Happy Prince” by Oscar Wilde is told by a third-person narrator, who appears to be omniscient. 

The narrator borrows in turns the perspectives of all the characters in the story, even those who appear briefly. For instance, we know that the Mathematical Master does not approve of children dreaming. At the end of the story, we are even told what happens in heaven, as God speaks to one of his angels, deciding the fate of the main characters.

A large part of the story is told from the Swallow’s perspective. For instance, when the Happy Prince cries, we see him through the Swallow’s point of view: “The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in th...