The Little Prince

THE LITTLE PRINCE

The Little Prince was one of the first books that got me interested in reading. I got it as a present from my mother when I was nine together with Jonathan Livingston Seagull. Since then, I have gotten it as gift four times and read it at least ten times. After each reading, I seem to come away with different insights from the book depending on what stage of my life I was in or what my situation was. It strikes me that this book, first published in 1943, holds timeless truths on many different levels. It tells the truth of love, the truth of perspective, and the truth of childhood innocence, to name just a few.

Of all the people who teach us about life's meaning it is not the Socrates or the Platos of the world that we find truly touching or moving. Instead, we find that simple naпve people can offer us the most profound insights into life because of this very simplicity. They offer us a new perspective on things that we take for granted or things that we fail to even stop to look at. The beauty of a flower or a friendship can be easily overlooked unless it is brought to light through the eyes of a child or character possessing the same qualities of untainted observation that children so often have.

It is this innocence and simplicity that sticks to my mind and that impacts me the most. It reminds me to go back to basics and to re-learn to relax and to appreciate the simple pleasures that life brings. Sometimes I get too caught up in everyday realities that I forget what is really important to me - my family and friends. How many times do we miss the message of love that people send to us because we are too busy? How many times have we missed the signs that people around us are seeking desperately for a simple gesture of love - a smile, a wave, a kind touch on the hands or shoulders or simply a gentle look? I sometimes forget how these simple gestures can change or affect lives of people around me. I do not have to knock myself out to help others; I simply have to show I care.

The Little Prince is a good novel, in great part, because it has very entertaining characters. Part of what makes these characters so enjoyable is the fact they are each a paradox. The prince is an interesting character to follow through the book. The way the little prince never answers anyone else's questions, yet always expects answers to his own, is amusing. He is childlike in appearance yet seems older in his wisdom. The author of the story is captivating, because his character gives a great deal of insight into the thoughts of adults. The author is also childlike, in his hope that he will one day find another person who looks beneath the surface of things. Another character, the wise fox, is the prince's first friend on the Earth. The fox appears to be a silly animal at first, after one reads on, however, they discover he is not silly at all. Also the rose, the prince's love, is very arrogant yet charming. The snake, whom the prince meets his first night on Earth, is dangerous yet helpful at the end when he assists the prince in returning to his home planet. These many-sided characters draw the reader in to the world of the little prince.

The book has a way of pulling the reader into the story along with the other characters. I become quite charmed by The Little Prince every time I read it. St. Exupery writes in a very simplistic style which allows children as well as adults to fall in love with The Little Prince. In fact, The Little Prince is deceptively simple. The sentences may be written very simply, but some very deep meanings shine through. One such example of a simple phrase with deep meanings is said in the thoughts of the author, "It is such a secret place, the land of tears." (p. 25). This quote eloquently tells how no one can ever fully know why someone else is crying. Someone may think they know the reason, but they can never be sure.

When someone reads The Little Prince only on the surface, the story seems very lighthearted. When I read the book for the first time, I was curious about where the story was going. From the very first page, Exupery shows how adults do not look beneath the surface to find what is underneath. On that first page, Exupery shows his illustration of a boa constrictor swallowing an elephant. He asks the adults if they are frightened of his drawing. To this, the adults respond by asking why one should be frightened by a hat. Because of this situation, the reader knows the novel is more than meets the eye.

One of the most evocative situations in this delightful story appears simple yet has very intricate ideas. The following quote by the fox explains how people do not always look under the surface. They miss out by taking things at face value. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." (p. 73). The fox says this to reassure the prince so he knows how special his rose is even though it looks the same as every other rose. The Turkish astronomer on the other hand teaches us that we should not judge people by the way they look. The adults don't care about what he has to say because of what he is wearing. Really, what he has to say is more important than his physical appearance. I have begun to look at life with my heart instead of my eyes. By looking with my heart, I am able to live life more fully. I am better able to appreciate people for who they are rather than by making assumptions based on their appearances.

There are other powerful messages to be found in this book. This novel, like all great literature, is universal because, hidden in the words of the text are truths that cross barriers of time and culture. The Little Prince can apply to all ages of all cultures. If someone reads this novel with an open mind, they can also learn about seeing with the heart. In one chapter, the little prince and the author have a very important conversation about baobab trees. The little prince talks of how they are a big problem on his planet. The planet the little prince lives on is very small, so he is very fearful of baobab trees. If the baobabs grow up, their roots will split his planet into little pieces. The baobabs are a constant threat, and the little prince has to pull up the little baobabs every morning. The little prince points out that these trees start out very small then grow into large problems. Everybody has 'baobabs' in their lives; everybody just needs to learn how to take care of them. This message speaks to me and helps me realize that I can overcome many large obstacles if I take care of them while they are still manageable.

Perhaps the most important issue discussed in this novel is that of the ephemeral versus the eternal. The little