The Devoted Friend | Stories for Teenagers

he Devoted Friend" is a poignant story by Oscar Wilde about the nature of friendship. It tells the tale of a kind-hearted, hardworking water-rat named Rat and his seemingly devoted friend, the wealthy but selfish Miller. Miller constantly exploits Rat's generosity and takes advantage of his loyalty, asking for ever more favors and offering nothing in return. Rat, in his eagerness to please, falls into a cycle of selflessness that ultimately leads to tragedy. This story serves as a powerful lesson about the importance of mutual respect and genuine friendship, cautioning against one-sided relationships where one person's needs and desires continually outweigh the other's.