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*SELFISH GIANT*

In the tale The Selfish Giant', Oscar Wilde describes how human love has its impact on even seasons. He also proves how the love of tender children can change even a cold-hearted Giant into a lovable person.

In a village, the Children visited the Giant's garden every afternoon for playing. There was a lush green lawn, studded with stars like flowers. There were twelve peach trees. During spring season the trees gave out blossoms of pink and pearl. In autumn the trees were laden with sweet fruits. Birds sang melodiously. At times, children suspended their games to listen to the songs of the birds. The children played happily, sang merrily and tasted the delicious fruits of the garden.   
                                         The Giant, who is the owner of the garden returned from Cornish Ogre's castle, after enjoying his brief conversation for seven years. He saw children playing in his garden and making lot of noise He did not relish children playing in his garden. As he was very selfish, he did not like children entering and playing his lush green and decided to stop them from entering his garden garden. So he built a tall compound wall around his castle and he put up a notice board "Trespassers will be prosecuted". children were shocked to see the notice board and felt very sad that they could not play anymore. Nature saw the selfishness of the Giant and the sorrow of the children. Nature wanted to teach a lesson to the Giant. She withheld the spring and summer seasons for years. As a result only winter and hail storm and autumn visited the giant's castle, which destroyed the beauty of the garden.

The Giant could not understand why spring and summer had abandoned his garden all through the year. He was in fact pained to see the white cloak of his garden all through the year. He was puzzled and curious to know how the trees outside his castle bloomed and bore fruits. One day, he heard a melodious song of a bird. He looked out of his window. He saw his entire garden smiling with bright flowers. On each tree some children were playing. They had sneaked in through a little hole in the wall. But one poor tree was still covered with frost and snow. It bore no flowers. A little boy was found crying underneath. The tree lowered her branch to help him climb. But he was too tiny to catch hold of the branch. The Giant's heart melted as realized his mistake. He entered the garden. On seeing the Giant, children climbed down the trees and started running. But the little boy did not move. He could not see him for his eyes were full of tears.

The Giant knelt down. He lifted the boy ently and put him on the tree. The tree was overjoyed. White blossoms appeared immediately on the tree. The little boy kissed the Giant. Birds returned to the garden. Children who ran away came back, and climbed up the tree. The Giant announced that it was their garden. He realized that nature had punished him for keeping the children away from his garden. He took a big axe and knocked down the big compound wall. People were really surprised to see the Giant play with their children. Every child made it a point to play there from afternoon to evening.

The selfish Giant looked around to see the tiny boy again but he could not see him. He enquired the children about the little boy who kissed him. They said that they did not know him. Everyday he longed to see the little boy. Years rolled by. The Giant had become old and feeble. One day he saw the little boy standing alone in the garden. The Giant was overjoyed. He climbed down with haste and rushed to him. He was pained to see the nail marks on his tender palms and toes. He became furious. He asked the little boy to tell him who dared harm him. The little boy smiled and said they were marks of love. He invited the Giant to his garden (i.e.) Paradise. The next morning the Giant's body was lying lifeless covered with sweet smelling white flowers Through this story we learn that God has created nature and beautiful things and seasons for the use of all. Sheltering the bounty of nature for personal use alone is a selfish action. The writer wants none to prevent fellow citizens from enjoying the bounty of nature.