The Little Prince as a part of children’s literature

Ques. Will you consider 'The Little Prince' as a part of children’s literature? Elucidate.

Ans. The Little Prince by the modern classic French writer Antoine De Saint Exupery narrates the allegorical tale of a narrator who lands up in a desert where he accidentally meets a tiny man- named Little Prince. This small, lovely creature is like a child who is eager to know everything going around. Through the depiction of the little prince, the author tries to explore and represent the thinking of a child and their perspective about adults. 

The beautiful tale is said to be a part of children’s literature as it fulfills most of the features of children’s fiction. In this story, Antoine De Saint-Exupery applied his creative ways to depict the world from a child’s point of view with a hidden meaning and multilayered message for adults.

The Little Prince is an autobiographical narration in which the author reveals his experience with grown-ups. He creates a story in a way that is loved by both children as well as adults. It is an exercise to look back into the past events of childhood for adults and retreat from the past and not only this but to understand the critical view of a child about grown-ups. At the beginning of the story, the narrator points out the rudeness of grown-ups, who ridiculed him for his drawing of a boa constrictor and ask him to learn something which will make him intellectually wise. The author touches on the idea of fantasy as a protective layer to extend the reach among children as well as among adults. 

With the story, the author tries to bring forward two different spheres that are - a sphere of innocence and childhood which is represented with the help of a tiny creature, and another sphere of adulthood which is more or less concerned about money, figures, and much more materialistic things. The story begins with a pilot, whose plane crashed in Sahara where he meets a young kid, Little Prince. The narrator himself is a representation of an adult as he does not pay much attention to the Little Prince, and keeps on mending his airplane. Later, as this curious kid keeps on talking through which the narrator gets to know about his journey to other planets. 

The Prince went on an expedition to various planets, where he encounters many adults like a geographer, king, conceited man, lamplighter, and businessman. As the prince came to know about adults he exclaims that, “only the children know what they are looking for.” These adults serve as symbolism to adults in the real world, who are concerned with figures, money, ownership, and vices ruled out by greed, responsibilities, and pride. 

Even though, the tale is said to be a part of children’s fiction still it deals with various concerns which are far from the understanding of a child. On the last planet, which is earth the young prince meets a fox who in a way tries to turn a young prince into an adult as he said, “People have forgotten this truth”, further he added “but you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.” Through this statement, the idea of responsibility is brought to light. The sense of responsibility is accompanied by love and the little prince has to cherish this love to save his Rose. 

This children’s work is certainly fulfilling all the features of children's fiction but on the same hand, it can be seen as an insight to adults about their narrow-mindedness who are preoccupied with responsibility, wealth, and duty. The narrator’s drawing of a boa constrictor and various other drawings which are included in the story tries to keep the audience, especially the innocent children engaged till the end of the tale. The way the narrator draws and the adults mock his drawing shows the open-mindedness of a child who is trying to explore the world but the adults are stopping him to do so. 

In the story, the author often compares not only the thinking of grown-ups with children but also their imagination. Despite, being children's fiction the story is a representation of the life of adults and their changing behavior as they grow up. It depicts human nature and its tendency towards life. 

The wonderfully woven tale of a young man takes into consideration the concept of children’s literature but at times it serves as a realization for adults. The story can be seen as a “children’s fable for adults” as it tries to cultivate the children among all the adults. However, through its didactic tone, the story teaches us to be responsible for things we 'tame' and that we should sometimes listen to what our heart says, "The important things in life you cannot see with your eyes, only with your heart."