Summary and Analysis of The Little Prince

The narrator, who is also the pilot, talks about his struggle as a child to illustrate a boa constrictor consuming an elephant. The narrator initially sketches the picture from the outside, but everyone thinks it’s a hat. So he tries to draw the boa constrictor from the inside, yet at this moment, the adults tell him to stop drawing them and rather focus on more important things such as geography and arithmetic. Instead, the narrator pursues a different career path, to become a pilot. He says as a pilot, he often spent lots of time with adults. He admits that when he encounters someone who appears to be evident, he presents his drawing of a boa constrictor from the outside perspective, but the adults still think it’s a hat. Subsequently, the pilot lowers himself to their level and standard, speaking of mundane topics rather than boa constrictors and stars.

The pilot leads a solitary existence until one day he crashes in the Sahara desert which is thousands of miles from any human habitation. He tries to repair his engine despite the fact that he has a small water supply. Even so, when he starts working on his engine, he notices a tiny voice instructing him to sketch a sheep. Regardless of being in the midst of the Sahara desert, the Prince seems in good condition. After many failures at illustrating the sheep, he decides on drawing a box that holds the sheep making the little prince pleased, much to the pilot’s surprise.

The pilot starts to learn much more about little prince and discovers that he’s from the B-612 asteroid, which was identified by a Turkish astronomer in 1909. This observation was initially ignored because the astronomer presented in a Turkish outfit; nevertheless, when the astronomer repeated the presentation in a European costume in 1920, everyone believed his study. Eventually, he starts to absorb other certain information about the little prince’s planet, such as the knowledge that baobab trees are a big threat and also that the little prince’s favorite flower is a rose. This rose, on the other hand, is arrogant and dishonest, rendering the little prince disappointed. He believes that he can no longer trust her and departs from his planet.

The little prince had his journey and he first meets a king who appears to reign over all of creation, along with the stars. Even so, since he has no people to govern with his own, the little prince becomes dissatisfied and departs. The little prince’s second encounter is with a pretentious man who thrives on praise and recognition. The third is a tippler who claims he drinks to neglect about his guilt about alcohol.

The little prince thinks all of the adults are weird, thus he travels on to the world of a lamplighter, which lights a lamp when darkness comes and turns it off once the sun rises. The lamplighter, the little prince believes, is not absurd of all of the other grownups since he is thinking about something besides himself. The little prince later encounters a geographer, who informs him that his rose is.

Reader’s Response to Literature: Critical Analysis of “The Little Prince”

1. Which one among the adults the Little Prince meets do you find the most significant to discuss? Why

Among the adults that the Little Prince meets, the most significant one would be the geographer. The geographer was the wisest out of all the other adults. He told the Little Prince that he had a job that took much knowledge to do. The old geographer also starts inquiring about the Little Prince’s planet. During his visit to the geographer’s planet, he realizes that “My flower is ephemeral… and she has only four thorns to defend herself against the world! And I left her alone with me!” (chapter 15). He realizes this due to the geographer’s words about flowers being ephemeral. As said by the words of the geographer, ephemeral means something or someone who is threatened with the near disappearance. So that would mean that the Little Prince’s rose would eventually disappear. Therefore, the geographer is the most significant adult that the Little Prince met because he was the one that led the Little Prince to realize that his flower threatened to disappear soon.

2. For the Little Prince to go back to his planet, he must first die. Would you consider this an act of sacrifice or an act of foolishness? Justify your answer.

It can be said that the Little Prince dying to return to his planet is an act of sacrifice. It is an act of sacrifice because he loved his rose so much that he was willing to take the bite of the snake to return back home. In other words, he went through the pain of the poison to be reunited with his rose once again. In here “You have good venom?” Are you sure you will not make me suffer for a long time?” (chapter 26) the Little Prince was making sure that his sacrifice for the rose was worth it. Thus, the death of the Little Prince is an act of sacrifice because he was willing to go through the pain from the snake’s poison so that he could reunite with his beloved rose on his planet.

3. If you were to create another adult that the Little Prince would meet, who would it be and why?

If I were to create another adult that would meet with the Little Prince, I would like him to meet a man with great imagination. This man with great imagination would be called “The Dreamer” as he would dream about the millions of possibilities in life. The Little Prince should meet the dreamer because throughout his journey in the book, he has never met an adult that has a wide imagination. As he said after his visit to the business man, “The grown-ups are definitely quite extraordinary” (chapter 13). It is true that grown-ups he met are quite extraordinary when it comes to their personalities and habits. Although the Little Prince met a variety of adults, he hasn’t realized that not all adults lack imagination. In conclusion, the Little Prince should meet the dreamer as he would realize that adults can also have a sense of imagination.

4. Choose one among the object characters below and write what important message you learn from it.

a. Rose

  • b. Baobabs
  • c. Drawing # 1
  • d. Fox
  • e. Sunsets
  • f. Thousands of roses
  • g. Stars
  • h. Your own choice

From the fox, I learned that the time we spent caring for others is what makes them special to us. As the fox said “It’s the time you lost for your rose that makes your rose so important” (chapter 21). From this statement, we realize that if we spend time with others, we would build a connection that will make us feel important to each other. In the case of the Little Prince, he has established a strong connection with the rose that blooms on his planet which made her special to him. Meanwhile, the thousands of roses in the garden on Earth are not as special to the Little Prince because he didn’t spend much time caring for them and trying to get to know them. Thus, an important takeaway from the fox is that the time we spend with others is what makes them important and special to us.

5. Watch this YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3Dk793z7uU. Compare and contrast the video and the novel “The Little Prince” on how they perceive adults and their differences with children.

After watching the video, how kids perceive adults are similar to how the Little Prince perceives adults. The kids in the video mentioned about adults being too busy with work, not having enough fun and not trying new things that often. Meanwhile, the Little Prince thought that adults were quite extraordinary and bizarre. The Little Prince also discovers that adults can be very serious and busy that they don’t even notice the things around them as the business man said “Hey? You’re still here? … I have so much work! I am serious, I do not amuse myself with nonsense!” (chapter 13). Compared to the Little Prince’s thoughts, the kids thought of adults more in the context of reality with their jobs, worries, responsibilities and so on. The difference of adults and children is that adults have more responsibilities so they are busier, meanwhile children have less responsibilities and they enjoy having fun. In conclusion, there is a difference between the kids in the video and the Little Prince’s thoughts about adults however, they can both agree that adults can be very busy at times and that they don’t think about the things around them.

You will be assessed using the following rubrics

Criterion A: Analyzing

  • Descriptor
  • The student:
  • Indicator
  • Level Of Achievement
  1. provides perceptive identification and comment upon significant aspects of texts
  2. provides perceptive identification and comment upon the creator’s choices
  3. gives detailed justification of opinions and ideas with a range of examples, and thorough explanations; uses accurate terminology
  4. compares and contrasts features within and between texts..
  • Students’ answers effectively cite evidence from the novel “The Little Prince by using both direct quotes and paraphrases.
  • Answers show excellent analysis by providing insightful explanation/analysis on how details support opinion
  • Opinions are always accurate and fully justified
  • Answers are extensive and include the most effective and strongest supporting evidence from the novel.

Criterion B: Organizing

  • Descriptor
  • Indicator
  • Level Of Achievement
  • The student makes sophisticated use of organizational structures that serve the context and intention effectively
  • Effectively organizes opinions and ideas in a coherent and logical manner with ideas building on each other in a sophisticated way, makes excellent
  • Answers apply the PEAL method completely and effectively
  • Answers are well- organized, and clear
  • All ideas are strongly related to the point.
  • Uses transitional devices/connectives effectively.

Use of Figurative Language in The Little Prince: Analytical Essay

The story starts with conversation on the idea of adults and their failure to see particularly significant things. As a test to decide whether an adult is illuminated and like a kid. He shows them an image that he drew at 6 years old portraying a boa (snake) which has eaten an elephant. The adults consistently answer that the image portrays a hat, thus he knows to discuss ‘sensible’ things to them, as opposed to whimsical. Then the narrator, a plane pilot, crashes in the Sahara desert. The accident gravely harms his plane and departs the narrator with next to no food or water. As he is stressing over his situation, he is drawn closer by the little prince, a kid who requests that the narrator draw him a sheep. The narrator fulfills his request, and the two become companions. The pilot discovers that the little prince originates from a little planet that he calls Asteroid 325 yet that individuals on Earth call Asteroid B-612. The little prince took care of the planet, keeping any terrible seeds from growing and ensuring it will not be overwhelmed by baobab trees. Still, at some point a rose grew on the planet and the little prince became charmed with it. Yet, when he got the rose in obviously lying one day, he concluded that he was unable to put trust in her any longer. He became lonely and chose to leave. In spite of a very late compromise with the rose, the prince set out to investigate different planets and fix his dejection. He has travelled many planets and met with many individuals who lived on it before he came to earth and met the pilot.

The prince then met a fox, who taught him that the essential things in life are only noticeable only to the heart, invisible to the eye. His time spent being away from the rose makes the rose more extraordinary to him, and that adoration makes an individual answerable for the creatures that one loves. The little prince understands that, despite the fact that there are numerous roses, his affection for his rose makes her remarkable and that he is consequently answerable for her. Notwithstanding this disclosure, he actually feels desolate on the grounds that he is so distant from his rose. The prince closes his story by portraying his experiences with two men, a railroad switchman and a sales clerk. The little prince understands that, despite the fact that there are numerous roses, his affection for his rose makes her exceptional and that he is subsequently answerable for her. Notwithstanding this disclosure, he actually feels desolate in light of the fact that he is so distant from his rose. The prince closes his story by portraying his experiences with two men, a railroad switchman and a business representative. It is currently the storyteller’s eighth day in the desert, and at the prince’s recommendation, they set off to locate a well. The water takes care of their souls as much as their bodies, and the two offer a snapshot of ecstasy as they concur that an excessive number of individuals don’t perceive what is really significant throughout everyday life. But the little prince’s mind is fixed on getting back to his rose, and he starts making arrangements with the snake to make a return for his planet. The narrator finally managed to fix his plane on the day preceding the one-year commemoration of the prince’s appearance on Earth, and he walked tragically with his companion out to the spot the prince landed. The snake bites the prince, who ends up falling quietly to the sand. The story ended with the prince finally returning to his planet and the narrator managed to fix his plane.

The Little Prince was made when Saint-Exupéry was ‘expatriate and distraught about what was going on in his country and in the world. According to research, ‘the narration of The Little Prince includes a great deal of fantastic, extraordinary aspects. The dream of the Little Prince works in light of the fact that the rationale of the story depends on the creative mind of kids, as opposed to the severe authenticity of grown-ups. The Little Prince draws unflattering representations of adults as being hopelessly biased. Conversely, youngsters come to shrewdness through liberality and a readiness to investigate their general surroundings and inside themselves. The fundamental topic of the story is communicated in the mystery that the fox tells the little prince: ‘It is just with the heart that one can see properly: what is essential is invisible to the eye.’

Next to The Little Prince’s brilliantly-written story, different readers may notice different factors that caught their attention. Many of them will do good as research material. For example, you may notice the unique personality of how an adult is portrayed in the story, or you may notice the unique picture of how everything is depicted in the story. But personally, I wanted to dig further into the figuratives language used in the story. According to CFI Education Inc., Figurative language to the utilization of words such that digresses from the traditional request and significance so as to pass on a confounded importance, brilliant composition, clearness, or suggestive examination. It utilizes a standard sentence to allude to something without legitimately expressing it. Fiction scholars utilize figurative language to draw in their crowd utilizing a more imaginative tone that incites thinking and once in a while humor. It makes fiction composing more fascinating and sensational than the strict language that utilizations words to allude to articulations of reality. There are a few kinds of metaphorical dialects that are utilized in present day composing. They incorporate Simile, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Personification, Synecdoche, and Onomatopoeia.

A simile is a hyperbole that analyzes two dissimilar things and utilizes the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ and they are normally utilized in regular correspondence. A simile is utilized with the point of starting an intriguing association with regards to the reader’s mind.

A metaphor is an explanation that looks at two things that are not the same. In contrast to simile, illustrations don’t utilize the words ‘like’ or ‘as.’ Such proclamations possibly bode well when the reader comprehends the association between the two things being analyzed.

Hyperbole is an exaggeration that is made to stress a point or draw out a funny part. It is regularly utilized in ordinary discussions without the speaker noticing it. The exaggeration is ludicrous to the point that nobody would accept that it is valid. It is utilized to add profundity and shading to a statement.

Personification is the attribution of human qualities to non-living articles. Utilizing exemplification influences the manner in which readers envision things, and it starts an enthusiasm for the subject.

Synecdoche is a sort of allegorical language that utilizes one of its parts to allude to the entire, or the entire to allude to the part.

Onomatopoeia is a figurative language that gives names to an object or activity by imitating the sound it made. They add some point of realism to the literature work.

Literary Review

It’s been 77 years since The Little Prince first published, and somehow the literary work is still on the line for each own purposes. Education material, object of research, or even solely as entertainment. How did this literature work survive the test of time holds many questions for it. The function of such literary work is to act as the dominant note of the period in which it is born. Good writing is something valuable, which in spite of travelling the passage of time, not only remains relevant but also acquaints the reader with the past — with the way of society as it was as well as with questions and the affecting the mood of the people. In his paper, ‘On Literature Today’, written by Van Wyk Brooks , “The public has a right to expect from its poets and thinkers some light on the causes of our questions and problem and the way to a better future.” Therefore, it’s possible to call great literature as the “soul” of society (at least for the reading one it is). (M.Saad, 2018)

Each age has seen the rise of the significant authors who formed the reasoning and sentiment of the general public they lived in. Accordingly, the ‘nauseating business’ of composing — the same number of experts including DH Lawrence have called it — accompanies a specific measure of obligation. Today is miserable that, in the hours of purposeful publicity, numerous authors remain reserved from this obligation. Or maybe, they become mouthpieces of political outfits they venerate and attempt to persuade their reader with their impressive thoughts. Great writers such as Saint-Exupéry of the past made them think in such manner: they shared the state of mind of their individual social orders with most extreme earnestness in their works. They volunteered to feature the defects of the social orders they lived in. They were for truth, and truth alone. Thus, their thoughts never blurred — they all composed with an abstract reasonableness more slanted towards truth and had the option to shape their contemporary reality.

Adored since its publication in 1943, Antoine De Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince is an charming tale saturated with life lessons that tells the story of a small boy who takes off the security of his claim minor planet to travel the universe, learning the complexities of grown-up conduct through a arrangement of unforeseen experiences. Reading is not easy all the time, especially doing it wisely. One of the important aspects of a good book is its endeavour to persuade us towards the importance of an idea. Some of the points and ideas made by these writers never lost its relevance because they were adopted by writers in the future.

Formulation of the Problem

Why does Antoine de Saint-Exupéry use so many figurative language in it’s writing?

Hypothesis

Figurative languages just like metaphors, similes, and metaphor goes beyond the literal meanings of the words to give readers new insights. Then again, alliterations, imageries, or onomatopoeias are figurative devices that appeal to the senses of the readers. The Little Prince story came with several picturization of the author’s story, which kind of limits the idea, imagination, and depiction of it’s story, but helps in delivering the accurate picture of the story. Despite all that, the author still uses figurative languages in this story in order to enhance the reading experience of the reader and add depths to the story itself.

‘I pointed out to the little prince that baobabs are not bushes but trees as tall as churches’.

For example, when the pilot (narrator) is trying to tell the little prince about the size of the actual baobabs on earth, he uses the simile figurative language to let the reader know that the writer refers to the reality, not based on his imaginations. In conclusion, the figurative languages used in this story are meant to deliver more correct and accurate picture of the story while also adding depth and shading.

Concept of Overcoming Social and Emotional Isolation in The Little Prince

“Many sensitive characters want to experience companionship, but when they cannot achieve this, they become alienated” (Laleh and Rikani, 2016:660). This statement can be applied to the protagonists of both Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince. The Little Prince for example, feeling betrayed by his rose, leaves his planet to find someone worth loving, only to find no one worth being with, which leaves him lonely and isolated. On the other hand, although Holden isolates himself at the beginning of the novel, throughout his whole time in New York he wants to, “give somebody a buzz” (Salinger, 2010:64) but there’s nobody to call. Whilst both protagonists experience social and emotional isolation, the ways in which they attempt to overcome this differs.

As Fred Marcus points out, “when the reader encounters Holden at Pencey Prep, he is already estranged from an accepted social pattern” (Marcus, 1963:7). One of the reasons for this is because Holden does not attend the big football game although it is the final one of the season, and it “was supposed to be a very big deal around Pencey” (Salinger, 2010:2). From this, the reader can already tell Holden is socially isolated from his peers and he doesn’t quite fit in. It can be suggested however, that Holden actually doesn’t want to fit in, and that at this point in the novel, this is a self-enforced type of social isolation. Holden stands at the top of the hill looking down at his peers and associates the scene with “phony slob[s]” (Salinger, 2010:3). This image of Holding looking down on everyone else from his school emphasises his separation from them all. This image also can be interpreted as a metaphor for the way Holden sees himself, as he is often quite condescending to the people around him suggesting he places himself above others. Kenneth Slawenski suggests this image is Salinger’s way of showing Holden as the “outcast, … alienated from those around him” (Slawenski, 2010:206). Salinger also presents Holden as an outsider through the clothes that he wears. His eccentric “red hunting hat” (Salinger, 2010:18), for example, can be described as a symbol of Holden’s alienation as it separates him from the people around him. It’s a strange item of clothing to wear as it is intended for the purpose of going hunting, whereas Holden wears it for most of the novel in many different contexts. It further reminds the reader than Holden sticks out from the crowd and he can’t quite blend in with the rest of the world, leaving him socially isolated.

Comparatively, in the beginning of the Little Prince’s story, he isn’t socially isolated like Holden. He lived on his own little planet called “Asteroid B-612” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:20) where there is no one but himself and his rose. Whilst this would appear like the Little Prince was isolated, he was happy and content doing his daily tasks such as tearing up the “little baobab shoots” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:26) and spending time with his rose. Only after being betrayed by the rose’s lies, does the Little Prince begin to realise how lonely and isolated he is on his planet. Feeling completely alone and restless, the Little Prince leaves his planet in search for a friend to give his live meaning in a way that the rose once did. Although the rose apologises to him, the Prince still chooses to leave regardless, only to find the adults occupying each of the other planets to be “strange” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:47) and “odd” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:49). This, therefore, leaves him socially and emotionally isolated as after leaving his planet, the Prince cannot form a connection with any of the adults. This is due to their lack of “human perception, love, selflessness and generosity” (Laleh and Rikani, 2016:662) which the Little Prince is looking for in a companion.

Whilst both protagonists choose to embark on a lonely adventure, the Little Prince leaves in search of a new friend to give his life purpose whereas Holden’s departure “can be seen as getting away from society and going toward solitude” (Laleh and Rikani, 2016:663). Holden sees his school as an institution full of shallow “moron[s]” (Salinger, 2010:47), for example the headteacher, “went around shaking hands with everybody’s parents …except if some boy had little old funny-looking parents” (Salinger, 2010:14). Holden can see right through all of his peers and teachers and becomes so frustrated with them thats he decides to leave in the middle of the night. His argument with his roommate is the last straw for Holden and so he puts on his “red hunting hat” and shouts, “Sleep tight ya morons!” (Salinger, 2010:56). His harsh farewell emphasises how Holden would much rather antagonise and isolate himself from his fellow peers rather than attempt to fit in with them. Although Holden was isolated at the beginning of the novel, his departure from Pencey Prep is the next step into deeper feelings of loneliness and isolation as he tries to explore the lonely adult world in New York.

Bernard Meyer suggests, “the novels of Saint-Exupery are about himself” (Meyer, 1972:142). Having experienced two world wars, it is no surprise Saint-Exupery’s view of the world changed and he became deeply depressed and cynical. During a mission in 1944 Saint-Exupery disappeared and was never seen again. His disappearance is still an unsolved mystery to this day, and as Laushway reports, “one early theory, put forward by his own mother, was that Saint-Exupery was so disheartened by what he saw as the increasing dehumanisation of the world around him that he fled to a monastery” (Laushway, 1994:38). This suggests that Saint-Exupery felt isolated by the world around him and it can be argued therefore, that he illustrated his own sufferings of loneliness through The Little Prince. There are many similarities between Saint-Exupery and the narrator of his story who expresses his feelings of isolation: “Thus I lived alone, with no one I could really talk to, until I had an accident in the Sahara Desert six years ago” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:12). Like the Pilot, Saint-Exupery was a pioneering aviator who had a near-miss with death after crashing in the Sahara Desert. It can be suggested that perhaps Saint-Exupery based the character of the Pilot on himself and his own feelings of loneliness.

Social and emotional isolation can often lead to madness and insanity; Matz suggests that “madness is a prominent feature of the modern novel, and one reason for its prominence is the modern wish to push modern alienation to its most revelatory extremes” (Matz, 2004:49). Holden often refers to himself as “crazy” (Salinger, 2010:112) or a “madman” (Salinger, 2010:145), most often because he sees all the “phoney” (Salinger, 2010:141) people in the city, and he’d prefer not to live in a society that is so hypocritical and fake. Disappointed with life in the city, Holden’s desire to keep himself separate from the superficial “phoneys” (Salinger, 2010:115) is made clear through his craving to detach himself from society by running away and living in the woods. In chapter seventeen, Holden tries to convince Sally to “get the hell out of here” (Salinger, 2010:142) and stay in a cabin in the woods away from modern society. After she rejects Holden’s offer, Sally and Holden begin to argue until he eventually leaves her alone at the skating rink. Once again, Holden is back to being socially isolated in the city, feeling alone and confused. Throughout the argument, Sally asks Holden to “stop screaming” (Salinger, 2010:143) although Holden claims he “wasn’t even screaming at her” (Salinger, 2010:143). This indicates to the reader that Holden is becoming unaware of his own out of control frustration with society and that his emotional state is slowly heading towards a breakdown.

For the Little Prince, his attempt to overcome his social and emotional isolation was very successful. Whereas Holden wanted to escape from society, the Prince was desperate to find a companion. After travelling to several different planets, the Prince meets the Pilot and they both form a bond that is to each of their advantage. Not only does the Prince help the Pilot regain his perspective of childhood, but he also helps cure his feelings of loneliness. As the Prince’s planet is so small, he says that his star “will just be one of the stars for you. So you will love looking up at them all. They will all be your friends” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:100). As for the Prince, he learns the importance of his rose. In chapter twenty-one, the Prince meets the Fox who teaches him what it means to be tamed. The prince realises that his rose is in fact not just a “common rose” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:74), she is unique to the Prince as she has “tamed” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:77) him. It is at this point in the novel that the Little Prince realises he is “responsible for [his] rose” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:84) and therefore he must go back to his planet and take care of her. The Prince overcomes his emotional isolation by being taught the importance of love and friendship, and realising his own selfishness, the Prince is “refilled with feelings of love for his rose” (Laleh and Rikani, 2016:662). The ending to Saint-Exupery’s novel is ambiguous and has been interpreted by critics in many different ways. In order to fully overcome his emotional isolation and get back to his rose, the Prince must be bitten by the Snake. The Snake possesses a deadly poison that he claims will send the prince back to his home planet and the Prince warns the pilot that it will look “as if I were dying” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:102). Laleh and Rikani argue, “the Little Prince commits suicide” (Laleh and Rikani, 2016:661) which is seconded by Heckel who suggests that the Prince cannot continue to exist with the “insensitivity and meaninglessness that are a part of the behaviour of men on earth” (Heckel, 1974:27). However, it could be suggested that these interpretations come from “grown-ups” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:23) with no imagination and actually the Prince will have transported back to his planet to be happy with his rose, just like he claims. The Prince says, “You shall always be my friend…I shall not leave you” (Saint-Exupery, 1995:84-85), showing how both the Prince and the Pilot managed to overcome their social and emotional isolation as they will both have each other forever.

Holden, on the other hand, doesn’t find it as easy to overcome his social and emotional isolation. In the penultimate chapter of the novel, Holden’s emotional state beings to completely deteriorate. After trying to sleep on a bench in Grand Central Station, Holden admits he feels “more depressed than I ever was in my whole life” (Salinger, 2010:209). Whilst trying to walk down Fifth Avenue, he then begins to get overwhelmed by a sudden fear that every time he steps off a curb he would “never get to the other side of the street” (Salinger, 2010:213). This new fear of Holden’s represents his doubts about his future as he has no idea what is next for him. The other side of the street therefore becomes a metaphor for the uncertainties that adulthood has already begun to throw at him, which he wishes he could avoid. However, Holden meets Phoebe at the museum, and they argue because he refuses to let her go out West with him. It is at this point in the novel Holden is forced into the responsible adult role as he knows it wouldn’t be in Phoebe’s best interest to let her follow him out West. Holden fulfils his desire to be the “catcher in the rye” (Salinger, 2010:186) and protects Phoebe’s childlike innocence by deciding to go back home, and in-turn also protecting himself from complete social and emotional isolation. As he watches Phoebe go round on the carousel, Holden feels “so damn happy all of a sudden” (Salinger, 2010:229) as he knows he has been able to preserve her pure childish innocence and finally, he has been able to deal with a challenge of his newfound adulthood. Whilst this doesn’t mean Holden has fully overcome his social and emotional isolation, the fact he is in a hospital surrounded by a “psychoanalyst guy” (Salinger, 2010:230) and he has intentions to “apply [himself]” (Salinger, 2010:230) when he goes back to school, suggests slowly but surely Holden is working on his emotional and social issues. Therefore overtime, perhaps he will begin to feel less isolated like the Pilot and the Prince.

Opinion Essay on The Little Prince: Analysis of Characters, the Best and the Worst Parts

1. Who among the characters do you like most? Explain further.

The fox is one of the characters that captures my attention, one of the earth’s inhabitants that the Little Prince encountered on his journey. What I like about the fox is that his words leave readers with such a meaningful realization about life and friendship. In fact, the way in which the fox puts the word “tamed” in his words makes sense. I never thought that there would be more depth meaning to this ordinary term. For him, “tamed” is to establish ties or creates a bond. If they tamed each other it means that they both need each other and they both become precious in each other’s eye. Just like how the fox made the Little Prince realized that his rose is unique from all other roses, is because they tamed each other; the time they spend and the memories they share with each other make their relationship so special. I found a true friendship in the fox character. A friend fox’s sincere advice is an inspiration for us.

2. Which part of the plot do you like most? Explain further.

I like the exposition part where the story was first introduced in the narrator’s point of view. It begins with his reason why he dislikes adults. When the narrator shows his drawing of an elephant after having been eaten by a boa constrictor and the adults don’t understand it, they’ve seen it as a hat. He tried to show his drawing in every person he met, but no one seems to have a true understanding to it. That’s why he gave up his talent. I find it interesting because of the way it conveyed the message to readers about how grown-ups perceive and react in a certain thing. It is an impactful way to begin the story that sustains the reader’s attention and interest. It allows the readers to picture some perspectives about grown-ups, such as why does everything about grown-ups sounds like a job? They are busy doing things they think are important. They forgot to see the most important details because they have been more concerned with matter of consequence.

3. Cite a line/s from the text that strike you most? Explain further.

“It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Fox. It emphasizes the significant truth that everything in life could only be found in the heart. The visible things are just a shell and the fundamental values are hidden inside. So many people are wandering around, living their lives with so many aspirations. They forgot to look even the smallest thing around them and appreciate it. It is because they’re chasing the wrong things, what is essential is to devote yourself to loving and appreciating others. Another memorable line from the Little Prince: “You know – one loves the sunset, when one is so sad.” I am also very fond of sunsets and I noticed that the Little prince was right. Sometimes we are in a difficult season and it feels like it was the toughest journey we’ve ever walked, but, we’ve found the comfort and a way to escape from the harsh world by just watching the sunsets. Knowing that all your worries will past and go, just as the day can.

4. What is the best and worst part of the book? Explain further.

In almost all of the passages in the book is best for me. I love everything about the book. The writing is done meticulously and written with wise words. It is so poetic and inspirational. I couldn’t find any single thing to critique about it, because everything that the story tries to execute was flawless. At first, I was puzzled and a bit lost in the story, but when you read it again, everything came together. You have to think when you are reading this book. Each of the characters represents a role in society. Each chapter gives you an incredible journey along with the Little Prince.

5. What is your rating of the book? Why? 1-10 (10 is the highest)

The book would get a highest rate 10/10 from me. The book lives in the imagination and in the experiences that the reader has. Each character was given a highlight and plays an important role in the flow of the story. The are many powerful lines that leaves an impact to the readers. This is one of the books that affected me in such a way. The author’s writing rejuvenated the wanderlust in me. I could vividly picture every scene in the story and that’s how effective the writing is.

6. What is your over-all opinion of the book? Explain further.

Overall, I’m beyond impressed and really thrilled in the story. It is far more than just a fantastical tale for children, it is truly a book for the grown-ups. The whole book itself is simple but also super profound. There’s a lot of interesting ideas to explore and life lessons to learned. The words are not overly explained. You will really feel that you are in a mystical place because of the details it serves. This is something I will cherish and reread in the future.

7. Do you recommend the book to other students? Yes or No? Explain further.

Yes, I will definitely recommend this book. I am ready to share the joy in reading this iconic book with someone. I suggest to set aside some time and dive into a peculiar yet beautiful world of Little Prince. I think there’s no kind of person wouldn’t like and enjoyed this story. This book will become something unique to everybody, just like how it creates significance and changes in my perspectives in life, love and friendship.

Reader’s Reflection on The Little Prince: Analytical Overview

1. Why is it that nobody believed the astronomer?

Grown-ups has set their priorities, some are right and most are wrong. As per the society labelled a person. Man with suit and tie are being respected and sadly one that wears color faded shirts and jeans are called lowly. What happened with the astronomer is simply prejudice. They judge him based on the way he dresses and not on the content of his discovery. When he came back with a new attire they listened. A manner on how peculiar and complicated grown-ups can be.

2. What does the narrator say about grown-ups?

Grown ups destroy a childs fantasy of life. They tend to cut the chase of their wild imaginations and teach them the reality at an early age. One feedback tells more about a topic, it influences ones dreams and affect the passion they are currently building. The narrator experience that all. Grown ups speaks as if whom they talking to are all the same. A reason for the narrator to interpret them that way.

3. What can you learn from the narrator’s encounter with the king?

The narrators encounter with the king is a realization that not all people can be feed with power or authority. In the story, the king uses his power to require compliance in a planet with no one. It just shows that with those power people tend to forget where they come from and was blinded by it. The little prince and the king both live in a planet but the other was living alone. The little prince embodies the people who still remains humane in our world where power matters.

4. What does the lamplighter symbolize?

A lamplighter symbolizes hope. Even though in the story he symbolizes as a grown up who is dedicated yet unhappy of his job. For me, the lamplighter brings hope where the majority welfare are being put in priority. His job is exhausting yet he never give up and continue to fulfill his job. He do that not just for his self but also for others who depends on him.

5. Why is it that the rose is important to the Little Prince?

At first the rose and the little prince story is an unrequited love. One loves the other but is taking for granted nor its feelings is not being returned as the same. Even though it is being named as it is, the little prince love the rose unconditionally, he still treat the rose as his life. As the little prince is too young risk and the rose is conceited and naive there love didn’t resulted to an ending we all imagine.

6. What did the Little Prince learn from meeting the fox?

The little prince learn that in every actions and decisions he do he must take responsibility on it. Everything that he started should be finished by him not the other way around. As for his rose, it became dependent on him not because of its vanity but because he let her be one. The fox reminded him the importance of finishing what we started in order to move forward. One can only take a step and feel at ease if those actions being left behind are address.

7. What happened on the eighth day at the desert?

On their eight day at the dessert the little prince and the narrator walk to find a well where they can drink water to ease their hunger and thirst. When they found one, they talk of things and some of their experiences in life. People tend to blinded of some things that make them lose the oppurtunity to discover the essence of living, on who we live for and what we are fighting for. This scene is quite a goodbye for the little prince and the narrator. The time when the narrator went back to fix his plane and was to tell him that, the little prince says his goodbye to him and was being bitten by the snake that cause him to lie helplessly on the sand. In his one year anniversary on coming on earth is the last day they crossed path with each other.

8. Do you agree that it is with one’s heart that one can see rightly for what is essential is invisible to the eye?

Yes I agree that it is with one’s heart that one can see rightly for what is essential is

invisible to the eye. We can only perceive the essence of things if we can feel it genuinely. Happiness is not being determined on how we see or saw people on social media or on their career in life. The greatest things in life does not revolve on the things one has been being defined. Greatness comes with a fulfillment within us as our feelings are calm and steady. Life has so much to offer and ourselves cannot live for so long to experience. We must cut the chase, what we feel is more important that what other think.

9. Do you think the Little Prince died in the end? Why or why not?

Yes, he did die. The time when the snake bite him he then get back to his planet. We may view the snake as an evil creature but in the story its role is completely different. I say that because he did force the little prince to be back to his planet instead he wait for him patiently to be ready to come back. This just show that not all we see or view as evils remains evil, it just matters on how each one of us encounter one and decide for our judgment on it.

10. How would you end the story differently?

The little prince stop the snake in biting him. On that day he come with a decision. He will stay on planet earth for a little while and fix his self. It is not for the reason that he is running away from all that he left behind but he want to learn a few things about him self more. It is what he forgot for the past years, prioritizing his self. He was too focused on his rose that he slowly loses his self. He wanted just a little more time to reflect and heal at the same in that way he can face his rose with head help up high. Not just a little prince but a man who can take the risk.