The Little Prince

Another wonderful read I had earlier this week. It was simple but very beautiful and touching fiction story where the leading character is a little boy who is originally from a small unnamed planet, visits to many other planets including the earth at last and there he meets the narrator (a Pilot) in the Sahara desert, where the Aviator was left alone after an unexpected crash of his plane. Types of human nature, especially of the grown-ups, is analyzed quite well in the novella and it is expressed mostly in a symbolic form.

The story starts with a small art work done by the narrator when he was a Kid and he claims that no adult was able to interpret it in a way which he really meant when he drew that. It is true that, in general as we grow older our creative thinking or creative ability starts to decline. As we print some fixed concepts or some fixed images in the mind, we normally don’t see beyond that, in other words, what we see there may not be what they really are. “Know-it-all” attitude plays an important role here, I reckon. Not only this but also several other criticisms are made on grown-ups by the Author mostly through the little boy character.

We adults normally tend to judge people by their look rather than their real value which may be unknown at the first look. You may argue that outer look is very important but the point here is, it should not lead us to a poor judgment. We can’t judge a book by its cover. But normally we do, a bitter truth.

“On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International astronomical congress, in a great demonstration. But he was in Turkish costume and so nobody would believe what he said.
Grown-ups are like that.
So in 1920 astronomer gave his demonstration all over again, dressed with impressive style and elegance (European style). And this time everybody accepted his report."

The writing reminds us that he is not just a writer but a great poet too. The poetic expressions are all over there but I would like to give an example for that.

"First would come the turn of lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. Having set the lamps alight these would go off to sleep. Next the lamp lighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance, and then they too would be waved back in to the wings. After that would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and Indies; then those of Africa and Europe; then those of South America; then those of North America. And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage. It would be magnificent.”

There are quite a few lessons you will learn while reading it. ”Words are the source of misunderstandings”. What a truth it is! Most often our words are misinterpreted especially when we deal with the people who don’t know much about us. Clarify it with the owner of the words would be the best way to handle it rather than making your own misinterpretations and this theory is applicable to almost all kind of relationships.

If you want a friend tame me. “Said the fox.
“What must I do, to tame you”? Asked the little Prince.
“You must be very patient.” Replied the Fox. “First you will sit down a little distance from me- like that – in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me every day”

The more we learn the more we realize how little we know and how little we have.

“I thought that I was rich with a flower that is unique in all the world; and all I had was a common rose and three volcanoes that come up to my knees—and of them extinct forever—that doesn’t make me a great Prince”

Some fun intended and malicious talks might hurt people.  We should be aware of the feelings of others (emotional intelligence).

“I tell you-it is also because of the snake. He must not bite you. Snakes, they are malicious creatures. This one might bite just for fun.”

 As I said, it is mostly a symbolic writing and the following paragraph is a good example for that.

“You are not at all like my rose” Said the Little Prince.
And the roses were very much embarrassed.
“You are beautiful. But you are empty “The little Prince went on. “One could not die for you. To be sure an ordinary passerby would think that my rose just looked like you-the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses. Because it is she that I have watered; Because it is she I have put under the glass globe; Because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; Because it’s for her I have killed the caterpillars; Because it is she that I have listened to; when she grumbled or boosted or said nothing. Because she is my rose”

As we are in a world where people act like machines or forced to do so, we run towards money and success- no the better term would be “so-called success” forgetting the real values of life. It is all about the right balance. 

“Men” said the little Prince, “Set out on their way in express trains, but they don’t’ know what they are looking for. They rush about and get excited and turn round and round.”
And he added “it’s not worth the trouble”

I have shared my thoughts here. But the book has lot more to say and lot more to teach you. As it is a children’s book (short novel), it would be such a short but sweet read.