Anika+K--Little+Prince

=__The Little Prince__=

As most people would expect, the age difference between children and adults is very noticeable in their vocabulary, maturity, and even their little actions everyday. This would have a lot to do with the difference of responsibility and experience between the tremendous age gap. The author believes that though children and adults live in the same world, they don't view it the same way. He shows us through his characters and their actions that he thinks children have much more of an imagination than adults; that adults are narrow-minded and don't try to enjoy life the way that kids do. The little prince, who is a young child, represents all the many children in this world; he views his life the way the author thinks everyone should. Many of the different adults from the different planets are portrayed as being narrow-minded and narcissistic, including the conceited man, the buisness man, and even the lamp lighter.

The conceited man is a great example of a very narcissistic adult. He doesn't look to see what this world has to offer him; he's too busy looking at himself to notice anyone else. This character is supposed to represent one way that adults are narrow-minded; his mind only works when he looks in the mirror. The buisness man is also another good example on another way that adults are narrow-minded. The man is so occupied with his work, he doesn't even to take a minute to notice his surroundings. He doesn't take that minute to enjoy life; he's too busy counting the stars so that he can be rich. What confuses me is the what he's going to do with that money if all he's worried about is getting more money//.// It's like the buisnessman is running in countless circles; no one will never go anywhere if they run in countless circles. Last but not least, the lamp lighter is a suitable example of adult's narrow-mindedness. He is different than the conceited man and the buisness man is some ways. Atleast he does not have his own selfish purposes like them, but his way of thinking is very similar. He felt that is was his duty to light the lamp and take it off every morning and evening, which is was. But if the planet started rotating faster, the logical thing would be to stop lighting it; if your duty is ridculous, then I don't see a point in completing it. The author tries to show that the lamplighter is not thinking out of the box. Through these characters, he shows us his point that I have mentioned before; that most adults are narrow-minded and narcissistic.

I do not agree with what the author is trying to tell us about adults in this story. He believes that the way adults think is silly and a waste of life. I believe that this trend of thinking is the only way adults can survive this tough and competitive world. The minds of adults always have to be one step ahead of the game. The only reason that the minds of children are so carefree and imaginative is because they have not been exposed to the reality of life. By time they do experience this harsh and cold world, they are an adult, and they become the unimaginative, realistic being that everyone should be. Now, I am not trying to say that adults should not enjoy their lives. They should; but not to the completely carefree extent that the author is talking about. Life is about enjoying the experience, but is also about //surviving.// If everyone had such a carefree mind, society would crumble. The way that this world works, there needs to be competiton, and to have competition, people have to forget about the little things and work to be the best. We cannot also ignore the fact that the author is blowing this way out of proportion. Most adults are not always only focussed on their work; they also take the time out to enjoy with their friends and family. Very few people have the mind setting that the author is showing throughout the Little Prince.

To conclude, the author is trying to show in this book that adults are narrow-minded and also that children have a vivid imagination. __He portrays in his story that all children__ __should have the mind setting of an adult__, which I completely disagree with. It's not realistic to have a world filled with a bunch of people who have their heads in the clouds. Society as we know it would collapse in __it's__ tracks. The conceited man, the buisness man, and the lamplighter are all great examples of what he thinks all adults are like, but actually he is just using them as tools to exaggerate his so called "disappointment in adults."

Anika--Your introduction is good--you've stated the point well. The examples of the adults are also good--you show what the author is trying to do through the adults. Your point about competition is interesting --I wonder if we can be competitive and still a bit carefree--at least not so stressed. I think that's part of the point--it's a shame we can't be! I think you mixed up the point in the line I've underlined--isn't it the opposite? Adults should think like children? I believe that is his point. Yes--he is disappointed in adults. And--yes he blowing it out of proportion --that's the satire! Overall-nice job with understanding the novel.