‘The Little Prince‘ tells the story of a boy—now a young man—who crashes into a desert. He meets an interesting personality—the little prince—from whom he learns a lot.
Themes
This book develops so many engaging themes. Some of them include friendship, finding joy in nature, and the beauty in simplicity.
Friendship
Friendship is a major theme in the book, illustrated through the fox’s relationship with the Little Prince and the Prince’s bond with his rose. Both relationships demonstrate the rewards and consequences of becoming friends and sharing concern for each other. The fox teaches the Little Prince that shared memories, care, and concern mark genuine bonds. Despite its apparent simplicity, the Little Prince’s affection for his rose underscores the idea that genuine value lies in personal affinities, not grand gestures.
The Deceptiveness of Adulthood
The theme of adulthood’s superficiality is prominent. The grown-ups in the book think they know it all, that they know what the matters of consequence are. Adults are supposed to be wiser because of the experiences they have gone through. However, the children in the book—the pilot as a boy and the little prince—are much wiser than the adults and are the ones who focus on what matters, knowing that the inconsequential things that bother adults are only shells. Adults in the story often focus on trivial matters, missing simpler and more fundamental truths that children grasp. As a boy, the narrator used his drawings of the boa constrictor to judge adults’ understanding and found that their wisdom is often limited.
Simplicity
Simplicity is celebrated as the essence of true value. The story contrasts the superficiality of embellished appearances with the weightier value of simplicity. The Little Prince learns from the fox that what truly matters is not the quantity or commonness of things but one’s experience with them, which imbues them with meaning and makes them unique. This theme emphasizes that simplicity allows one to appreciate the essential aspects of life, rejecting distractions and focusing on the things of primary importance.
Curiosity and Proactiveness
Curiosity and proactiveness are key traits of the Little Prince. He questions everyone and everything he sees and learns much from that experience. His initial request for a sheep drawing and subsequent concerns about protecting his flower reflect his proactive approach to potential problems. His efforts to remove baobabs before they become uncontrollable show the importance of addressing issues early. This proactive mindset and curiosity drive the Little Prince’s journey and personal growth.
Nature
The Little Prince finds joy in nature, such as watching sunsets and appreciating the beauty of his rose despite its thorns. The rose’s thorns serve a purpose: protection. Nature is depicted as a source of wonder and is wholesome and interconnected, with each part serving the other. The story contrasts the natural curiosity and appreciation of children with the more detached attitude of adults, suggesting that true contentment comes from being in tune with nature and living in the moment. As the railway switchman points out, the children are the ones who look out at nature’s wonder through the train windows; the adults are lost in whatever worry that drives them restlessly to and fro.
Pride and Contentment
Pride and contentment are explored through the Little Prince’s relationship with his rose. Initially, he feels disillusioned when he discovers other flowers that look like his, but the fox helps him understand that his rose’s uniqueness lies in their shared bond. This lesson teaches that while ambition is important, appreciating and taking pride in what one has is equally valuable. Despite their apparent modesty, the Little Prince learns to value his possessions and relationships.
Key Moments
- The pilot’s crash landing: This moment is crucial as it sets the stage for the entire narrative. The pilot’s crash landing in the Sahara Desert introduces the Little Prince and initiates their profound conversation. This encounter marks the beginning of the Little Prince’s story and the pilot’s journey from a plane crash survivor to a storyteller of a more profound, philosophical tale. It symbolizes the intersection of two worlds—one grounded in reality and the other in imagination.
- The Little Prince’s Planet (Asteroid B-612): The Prince’s description of his tiny planet and his rose is essential for understanding his character and motivations. It reveals his initial isolation and the importance of his relationship with the rose, setting his journey’s emotional and philosophical foundation. This moment introduces the themes of love, responsibility, and the significance of the seemingly mundane, which are central to the story.
- The Little Prince leaves his planet: The Little Prince’s decision to leave his planet is a key turning point, driven by his dissatisfaction and curiosity. It represents a critical shift from the comfort of his familiar world to the unknown, reflecting the theme of exploration and the quest for deeper understanding.
- The Little Prince encounters other planets: The Little Prince’s visits to various planets and encounters with characters like the King, the Vanity, the Drunkard, the Businessman, and the Geographer are pivotal in illustrating different facets of human nature and societal flaws. Each character embodies specific traits or issues, such as vanity, greed, and obsession with power, which critique adult behaviors and highlight the Prince’s growing understanding of the complexities of human life.
- Meeting the Fox: Meeting the Fox is transformative for the Little Prince. The Fox teaches him about relationships, the concept of taming, and the idea that “what is essential is invisible to the eye.” This lesson deepens the Prince’s understanding of love and responsibility, particularly concerning his rose. It emphasizes the value of emotional bonds and the responsibilities they entail.
- The Little Prince’s realization about the rose: The Little Prince’s reflection on his rose signifies a moment of clarity and growth. He recognizes that his rose is unique and precious because of the time and care he has devoted to it. This realization underscores the theme of love and the idea that true value comes from the emotional bonds we form and nurture.
- The encounter with the snake: The encounter with the snake, which offers the Little Prince a means to return to his planet, represents a pivotal moment of transition and acceptance. The snake’s bite is a literal and symbolic passage to the next phase of the Prince’s journey, reflecting the themes of mortality and the cyclical nature of existence.
- The Little Prince’s departure: The Prince’s decision to allow the snake to bite him, enabling his return to his planet, marks the end of his earthly journey. This act symbolizes the culmination of his quest and the acceptance of his fate. It reflects the profound acceptance of the inevitable and the return to what he holds dear and hints at the cyclic nature of life.
- The pilot’s farewell: The pilot’s farewell is a reflective moment in which he contemplates the impact of the Little Prince’s visit on his own life. It highlights the emotional and philosophical growth that has occurred through their interaction. This moment bridges the story’s fantastical elements with the pilot’s real-world reflections.
- The legacy of the Little Prince: The story’s conclusion, with the pilot’s hope that readers will remember the Little Prince and his lessons, encapsulates the enduring impact of the Prince’s journey. It emphasizes love, responsibility, and the importance of seeing beyond surface appearances, leaving a lasting message about the true essence of human connections and the value of imagination.
Style, Tone, and Figurative Language
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry employs simple sentence structures and modern English in “The Little Prince.” The vocabulary is accessible, allowing readers to engage with the text without frequently referencing a dictionary. This simplicity in language enhances communication and accessibility. The novel is written in a style characterized by simplicity and innocence, mirroring the childlike perspective of the titular character. This minimalist approach is juxtaposed with profound themes, creating a straightforward and deeply reflective narrative.
The tone in ‘The Little Prince’ is conversational and friendly, creating a personal connection between the narrator and the reader. It is also contemplative and gentle, often conveying a sense of wistful nostalgia and philosophical introspection. The straightforward storytelling style invites readers to immerse themselves in the narrative, fostering empathy. The book’s simple structure and brief chapters, combined with illustrations, further engage readers by visually representing the story while playfully displaying the young artist’s skills.
Saint-Exupéry employs figurative language to enrich the narrative, particularly irony and personification. For example, it is ironic that the king, who believes he rules over everything, cannot control the sunset and must wait for its appearance. Similarly, the little prince finds it ironic that people take pills to avoid thirst but end up wasting time saved by the pill. The little prince’s comment on removing baobabs, describing it as “tedious yet easy,” presents an irony that underscores the novel’s exploration of paradoxes and the complexity of seemingly simple tasks. The personification of the flower, referring to it as “she,” and the Fox, who speaks with human qualities, further illustrate the use of anthropomorphism to convey deeper emotional and philosophical insights. These elements contribute to the novel’s overall tone and thematic depth, inviting readers to reflect on the essence of love, responsibility, and human nature.
Symbols
Here, we will examine a few things from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince” and their underlying meanings.
The Box Containing the Sheep
This symbol represents the power of choice. While the box offers the little prince the freedom to imagine his sheep, it also highlights the limits of that freedom, as the box can be seen as a cage. The box signifies the importance of choice and the constraints that sometimes accompany it.
The Baobabs
Baobabs symbolize potential problems that must be addressed before they grow out of control. They represent issues like ignorance and vanity that, if left unchecked, can become overwhelming. The lesson is to tackle problems early, preventing them from escalating.
The Beautiful Flower with Four Thorns
This flower symbolizes delicate love and care. The little prince’s treatment of the flower reflects the nature of love—how we nurture and value what we care for deeply. The thorns emphasize the fragility and protection associated with genuine affection.
The Shell
The shell represents objects or entities’ superficial or external aspects, such as physical appearance and outward beauty. It contrasts with the inner essence, which is more important and meaningful. The shell signifies the idea that actual value lies within, beyond mere appearances. Also, this idea suggests that love that develops out of service and companionship is more significant than one that sparks out of immediate attraction based on pleasant looks.
The Stars
Stars symbolize hope and joy. They represent the possibility of finding beauty and happiness in life. The novel suggests that stars are not limited to the sky but can be found in our memories and experiences, reminding us of the joy they bring. As there are many stars in the sky, so are there things about life we can appreciate. And as stars can influence our emotions while they are well out of reach, experiences that only exist in memory and are unreachable can still give us joy.
Personal Perspective
“The Little Prince” is a small book that speaks to some big truths. It shows how children see the world more clearly and simply than grown-ups do. Adults get caught up in things that don’t matter—numbers, rules, power. The book makes this plain through its characters, like the businessman who only cares about counting stars or the king who needs to command without a kingdom to rule. The grown-ups in the story seem blind to what’s important.
On the other hand, the little prince shows wisdom from seeing the world as a child. He loves his rose with a pure heart despite its thorns. He asks the kinds of questions adults have forgotten how to ask, and through those questions, he learns about love, friendship, and loss. The book is gentle, but its message is clear: we lose something when we leave childhood behind. The world would be better if we kept more of that childlike wonder and honesty. It’s a simple tale, but it speaks straight to the heart.
