The Little Prince :: essays research papers

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 naà ¯ve 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.