Ryan+M--Little+Prince+Essay


 * Some critics have said that **//** The Little Prince **//** is a "Buldungsroman", a novel in which the protagonist goes from a state of innocence to a state of experience as the result of a journey. The little prince does, in this novel, go through a change of maturity, in which he comes out somewhat more serious, and more knowledgeable about the world. He learns that not all people are as imaginative as he is, and he is insulted by what adults call “matters of consequence”. There are two major points that show his transition from innocence; his meeting of the six men while he is on his journey (the king, the conceited man, the tippler, the business man, the lamplighter, and the geographer) and the fox. **


 * Each of the six men whom the little prince meets on his journey, teaches him a different lesson. The king exhibits authority as well as reason, which teaches him that authority must bend to reason. He exhibits this by telling the little prince “‘If I ordered a general to change into a seabird, and he cannot fulfill the order, whose fault is it-his or mine?’ ‘Yours’ replied the little prince.” The conceited man shows him pride, by showing his obsession with himself and saying “Ah! Ah! I am about to receive a visit from an admirer!” The tippler displays shame, which plunges the little prince into deep dejection, for the tippler drinks to forget that he is ashamed of drinking. The businessman demonstrates greed, for he wants to own the stars, simply to own them. The lamplighter teaches him devotion, for no matter what, he lit, and put out, and relit his lamp. Finally, the geographer illustrates laziness to the little prince, for he thought that he was too important to go exploring on his planet. After all of these meetings, the little prince reaches the planet Earth, with more knowledge and maturity than before. **


 * On Earth, the little prince meets a fox. The fox quickly teaches him the important value of friendship, by becoming friends with him. He also teaches the little prince that when you have something, and then it is gone, you realize how much it means to you. This in a word, is caring. In addition, the fox, when the little prince is about to leave, tells him what might be the most important lesson of all, “It is only with the heart, that one can see rightly; what is essential, is invisible to the eye.” **


 * These examples help to describe the little prince’s transition into maturity. The six men on the journey show him the traits of authority, pride, shame, greed, devotion, and laziness; while the fox teaches him friendship, caring, and that “It is only with the heart, that one can see rightly; what is essential, is invisible to the eye.” **

Ryan--Nicely done! It is straight to the point, but with a bit of a different style. You've done a good job cutting to the heart of each character with a single word. The only thing I would suggest is showing how the fox's point made the little prince feel about his flower--this is part of his maturation. Nice job!