Why do you think the story ends with a young child calling attention to the Emperor’s nakedness? What message do you think the story is trying to convey?

The story "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Andersen ends with a young child pointing out the Emperor's nakedness to highlight the innocence and honesty of children. Children, unlike adults, do not feel the pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations, and thus, they speak the truth without fear of judgment or retribution.

The message the story is trying to convey is the importance of honesty and the dangers of vanity and pride. The Emperor, in his vanity, was fooled by the swindlers because he cared more about his appearance and what others thought of him than the truth. The courtiers and townsfolk, out of fear or desire to fit in, went along with the lie, showing how pride and fear can blind us to reality.

Furthermore, the story also highlights the power of one voice to reveal the truth. Despite the collective agreement to maintain the illusion of the Emperor's new clothes, it took just one child to shatter this illusion and expose the truth. This underscores the importance of speaking out and questioning the status quo, even when it goes against popular opinion.