Harvard University

AS the Novel The Little Prince comes to an end, the Little Prince draws some conclusions about why men are not satisfied. Explain at least 4 reasons for this discontentment as depicted in the novel.

I would appreciate if you could give 6 answers. But 4 or 5 will suffice

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1) Men aren't satisfied because they're too busy with wealth, power and technology. Example; ".....it is on account of the grown-ups and their ways. When you tell them that you have made a new friend, they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you, "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies?" Instead, they demand: "How old is he? How many brothers has he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make?" Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.

If you were to say to the grown-ups: "I saw a beautiful house made of rosy brick, with geraniums in the windows and doves on the roof," they would not be able to get any idea of that house at all. You would have to say to them: "I saw a house that cost $20,000." Then they would exclaim: "Oh, what a pretty house that is!"

Just so, you might say to them: "The proof that the little prince existed is that he was charming, that he laughed, and that he was looking for a sheep. If anybody wants a sheep, that is a proof that he exists." And what good would it do to tell them that? They would shrug their shoulders, and treat you like a child. But if you said to them: "The planet he came from is Asteroid B-612," then they would be convinced, and leave you in peace from their questions."

2) Men aren't satisfied because they allow others to take away their dreams. Example; "The grown-ups discouraged me in my painter's career when I was six years old, and I never learned to draw anything, except boas from the outside and boas from the inside."

3) People aren't satisfied because they're so bust rushing that they miss life's most important things. They don't invest enough time in loving others or in building lasting friendships. Example; "Six years have already passed since my friend went away from me, with his sheep. If I try to describe him here, it is to make sure that I shall not forget him. To forget a friend is sad. Not every one has had a friend. And if I forget him, I may become like the grown-ups who are no longer interested in anything but figures."

4) Rushing again, men aren't satisfied because their too busy rushing around looking for things that don't exist and not paying attention to the things that do exist.

5) Men use spirits as a temporary replacement (crutches) for the things they don't have in their lives instead seeking out things that will make them happy all the time, but the real answer always lies inside if a person will only look for the truth beneath the surface. Example; "Why are you drinking?" demanded the little prince.

"So that I may forget," replied the tippler.

"Forget what?" inquired the little prince, who already was sorry for him.

"Forget that I am ashamed," the tippler confessed, hanging his head.

"Ashamed of what?" insisted the little prince, who wanted to help him.

"Ashamed of drinking!" The tipler brought his speech to an end, and shut himself up in an impregnable silence."

Other examples also point to the "rushing of society," people rushing from here to there in search of something; since men look for the wrong things, they are never happy with where they are and so rush forward again and again, much like the trains that the switchman controls. Men are also fooled into believing that facts and figures are important (the geographer), not understanding that the facts often hide the truth and cause a person to miss out on the true meaning of life. This is also true of success, example; when people succeed and accumulate monetary goods, they spend most every moment counting assets rather than investing their time in the important things of life.

Source(s)

The Little Prince