Chapters 3-4 Summary

The Little Prince does not answer any questions about himself, making him seem very mysterious to the narrator. His curiosity is further aroused when the Little Prince asks him whether he has also come from another planet. Finally, the Prince says that the place from where he has come is so small that nobody can go very far by going straight ahead. The narrator is certain that the little man has come from another planet and speculates which one it might be. He decides that the Prince is probably from asteroid B-612 and explains how a Turkish astronomer discovered the asteroid.

The narrator interrupts the plot to explain his purpose in writing this book, which he has written in memory of his friend, the Little Prince. In it, he wants to show how adults are obsessed with facts and figures and fail to understand the real meaning of things. He then explains how important this book is for him and how he does not want it to be misinterpreted.

Notes:
As he converses with the Little Prince, the narrator closely observes his character traits. He seems quaint in his habits, persistent in having his own questions answered, and a bit sad. He is also mysterious, refusing to answer any direct questions related to himself. The narrator, however, does find out that he comes from another planet, which is very small; he assumes that asteroid B-612, discovered by a Turkish astronomer, is probably the Little Prince’s home. The narrator then tells how most adults did not take the Turkish astronomer seriously at first; then when he dressed in formal wear and gave a formal presentation, filled with facts and figures, the people believed in his discovery. The narrator is again pointing out the hypocritical ways of most adults, who thirst for meaningless facts and figures and fail to see what is really important.

The narrator says it is important to give the homeland of the Little Prince a name. Otherwise, he fears that no adults will take the Prince’s story seriously. They will, however, probably pay attention to a tale about a Prince who hails from Asteroid B-612.

The narrator wants people to read the book with care and sensitivity, for he has suffered in writing down these memories of the Little Prince, whose friendship is of great importance to him.

During these two chapters, it becomes clear that the book will be about the Little Prince and the narrator’s friendship with him. It is also obvious that the narrator will not become omniscient, pretending to know and understand everything. Instead, he is vulnerable and uncertain, which makes him appealing to the reader.

Chapters 5-6 Summary

The Little Prince wants to know whether sheep can eat little bushes, for he hopes that the sheep on his planet can eat the young baobabs. He explains that baobabs are categorized as “bad plants,” which need to be destroyed when they are little, for they turn into monstrous trees. As the Little Prince talks, the narrator feels an urgent need to draw and creates a picture of the magnificent baobab trees; but he emphasizes that baobabs can be dangerous, especially to children.

The narrator learns that the Little Prince is very fond of sunsets. Fortunately for him, since his planet is so small, he only needs to move his chair a few steps to see another sunset. He explains how he once watched the sun set forty-four times in a row.

Notes:
The Little Prince reveals a few more facts about the planet from which he has come. There is a bad plant there called the baobab; if it is not destroyed when it is tiny, it will grow into a monstrous tree that could threaten the well-being of the small planet. As a result, the concerned Prince wants to know if sheep might be used to eat the small baobab plants before they become a problem. The narrator fully understands the danger of the baobabs and sees them as a symbol. Since he says they are particularly dangerous to children, he implies that the baobabs are like adults, who harm children with their prejudiced and dogmatic thinking.

The Little Prince again points out the small size of his planet. Since he is fond of quiet and simple things, he enjoys watching the sun set on his planet; since it is so tiny, he can watch as many as forty-four sunsets in a row. His fascination with the setting sun, symbolizing the end of the day and the beginning of darkness, is in keeping with his sad, solemn nature.

It is important to notice that the narrator is still drawn towards artistic endeavors. As the Little Prince speaks of the baobab trees, he feels compelled to draw a picture of them. Like the narrator’s own nature, the drawing is simple and child-like, and so is his explanation of the picture. It is obvious that he and the Little Prince share many similar characteristics; the most important is that they can both see below the surface of things and understand what is really important in life.