The Little Prince

As an avid reader with interests in all genres, I was excited to start The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Our previous book had been Snowglobe by Amy Wilson, so my expectations were high! I was pleasantly surprised, however, that my expectations were not short-lived, and The Little Prince was just as brilliant a book – in different respects.
It would be a disservice to the book to call it unique. Why – It was a mixture of mystery and fantasy, added with a sprinkle of fun! Set in a desert on Earth, this fictional novella tells the story of a boy who supposedly came from a different planet, becoming acquainted with the narrator (who fondly nicknames him ‘little prince’).The little prince was a most baffling character, representing the innocence of man’s early years. His thoughts displayed curiosity and wonder to the extreme, touching memories of my own childhood. My favourite part of the book was when he sweetly asked the narrator for a drawing of a sheep. Though the little prince seemed somewhat simple, not unlike any other child, his maturity was one far beyond his years. He saw sense in imagination; drew out the essence of life from an otherwise dull existence; and was a veteran of all his experiences. The narrator came upon the boy by chance, and took his profound knowledge to heart. This book tells of how the narrator’s life was altered as he saw life through the eyes of children.
I would undoubtedly recommend this jewel of a book to anybody, but particularly young adults or teenagers. Though the tale may be described as elementary and aimed at younger children, I feel it is important to reminisce recent years and be reminded of what is important. By reading this, people of this age group would remain true to themselves rather than being distracted and doing things that demoralise their mind and body. While being presented in an easy way, The Little Prince in fact has an important message to deliver to the readers.‍‍
Symbolism has a crucial part to play in The Little Prince as it shows the meaning of the book. Through the different representations used of everyday life, we can compare our own lives to the ongoings in the book. For example, the fox that the boy tames upon his arrival on Earth represents the correct decisions and reaping their benefits; and the vain rose he leaves behind symbolises ignorance and self-obsession.
To round up, I feel that The Little Prince is a story worthwhile of occupying your time. Saint-Exupéry writes in first person, drawing the reader closer to the characters in order to relate. This book can teach us all a lesson: to enjoy life to the fullest! So, snuggle up under the light of countless stars and read this book, regardless of your age. After all, it was the little prince who correctly stated: “all grown-ups were once children!