Whitney+Wantong-Little+Prince+Essay

Essay #2

 Children and adults are like polar opposites. According to Antoine de Saint Exupery, the author of the book __The Little Prince__, there is a sharp contrast between children and adults. Throughout the book, there are many occasions that make it obvious that the author feels this way. Exupery feels that adults lack imagination. In the beginning of the book, the narrator talks about a drwaing he drew of a boa constricter eating an elephant. When he showed it to parents or other adults, they would think it was a hat. When he shows the hat to the little prince, the prince immediately realizes what it's supposed to be a drawing of proving that children are more imaginative than adults. Also, the author believes that children really know the more important things in life. On page 28, the pilots says, "I'm busy with matters of consequence", the little prince becomes irate and responds to the pilots remark by saying, "You talk just like the grown-ups!' and the prince goes on to describe a man he knew that never smelled a flower, looked at a star, or loved anyone. The prince says all the man did was add up figures and say that he was busy with matters of consequence and that made him proud. The prince says that man was no man, but was a mushroom, which really shows the princes dislike for so-called "matters of consequence". The author also points out that adults have a love of numbers. He explains that a person would have to say the price of a house when describing one to adults or else they won't be able to appreciate it. He also says," But certainly, for us who understand life figures are a matter of indifference." Basically, the author believes that children understand life because they don't care about figures or matters of consequence. In addition, the author thinks that adultas are always rushing and always want to save time. The prince says to a railway switchman, "They are in great hurry,". He was curious why and he didn't understand all the hustle and bustle. Which does bring up a point: why were they rushing? Later on, the prince meets a merchant who sells pills that quench thirst an dthe pills save 53 minutes a week. The prince thinks to himself that if he had 53 extra minutes, he'd just go to spring of fresh water. This comes to show that children aren't concerned with time saving. In conclusion, it's obvious that the author believes that the fact that kids have imaginations, and that they don't care about matters of concerns, figures or saving time is what really sets adults an dhcildren apart. hge thinks that children understand life.

"What is essential is invisible to the eye," This is something the fox says to the prince. It's the secret. The author believes kids see the world from this viewpoint and I agree with him. The things that are most important in life aren't matters of consequence or numbers. The most important things are those that only the heart can see.

Whitney--I like your perspective on this topic. You have used good quotes to show the difference in the thinking of adults and children--not just the actions. The focus is good. I wish you had given a bit more emphasis on the last two paragraphs, which contain major points to be made. Expand the explanation of how kids understand life more than adults, and the secret of life. Overall, nice job!