little prince, chpt 1

The little prince
The little prince by Antoine de saint- Exupery which is the story of a small child namely the little prince and his adventures is also a profound statement on human perception, attitudes and various Areas of learning. The first chapter of the book acquaints the reader with what lies thereafter. Apart from introducing the little prince as a painter in the first chapter we are given an insight into his a pinion into grown-ups and their almost rigid attitudes and patterns. There is no doubt that the entire book revolves round human perception but the first chapter itself highlights this aspect very strongly. The author very cleaver provides illustration to convey his point that all art is a matter of perception. The painting of a Boa Constrictor digesting an elephant which the author regards as his masterpiece which all grownups perceive it as lifeless, and an inanimate object namely a hat. Since perception is all about the onlookers view point it is always subjective and can never be wrong or right. In this case also, the author is not wrong about interpreting his painting as that of a boa constrictor digesting an animal. That is his perception of his art work. The grownups looking at his paintings are right in their own way as it does resemble some kind of a head dress.
An individual’s perception of a concept is always backed by some logic or reasoning with the help of which explains why a person perceives a particular abstraction in a particular manner. There is coordination between the mind and the eye wherein the latter sees and the former justifies that which is being seen. Without the power of reasoning an individual cannot label his perceptions or give it any name.
The language used throughout this chapter is simply. Short sentences have been used to convey the writers own clarity of thought on various issues the primary one being his view of grownups. There is no long winding description of the external world or of the inner emotional self. The writer addresses every issue head on. He announces his switch of profession in a very “matter-of-fact” manner and does not express his own personal opinion about the same. Specific words are used by the author in order to drive his point home.
As stated above, this passage is devoid of emotional jargon but does deal with the writers own feelings towards grownups in general and their attitude towards his own painting in particular. The writer does not dwell on any describing any one emotion for too long. He accepts the fact that his painting is perceived differently from what it is actually meant to be but decides to switch professions and not brood on his failure as a painter.
In the first chapter effective use of illustration has been made as it is only with the help of a diagram; can the point of ‘individual differences in perception’ be demonstrated. Although the art work is not highly refined, it serves the writers purpose and makes for the good visual appeal to the reader. The existence of non refined diagrams in the first chapter also validate the idea that these are works of a 6 year old child not that of a qualified artist. The pictures are cleverly used to portray the picture which the child artist has of a boa constrictor digesting an animal in his own minds eye. The rigid and well defined concepts of the adult world have not yet biased his imagination. Moreover one of the 3 paintings is so abstract that it can be interpreted in more ways than one. And every way can be the right way.
The ease with which the author mentions a switch of professions throws light on his interest for and knowledge of geographical facts. His option of being a pilot is made readily and he expresses no qualms about abandoning his career as an artist. His basic geographical knowledge at that age according to him would sufficient and helpful in his new career of a pilot. This career option also reveals the authors good business sense as the career of a pilot is certainly far more lucrative than the profession of a painter.
The passage can be closely linked to ethics as well. Important issues have been subtly raised but not commented on in this brief but wisdom-packed chapter. The author repeatedly harps on the fact that grownups are very rigid in theory thought processes and are judgmental about things which don’t lend with their own mind set. It is very difficult for grownups to accept a Childs point of view and it more difficult for them to encourage and agree with their Childs flight of imagination. The author expresses his disgust at the fact that grownups need to logically reason out everything and does not understand why they cannot accept and appreciate a work of art as just a work of art but feel compelled to analyse and categorize it. Graceful acceptance of the fact that a single object or idea can have multiple interpretations is alien to them. In doing so they very unconsciously demoralize a child and many a time ruin an upcoming prodigy. In the present day situation too, children, we realize are constant victims of adult expectations. The important adults in a child’s life that are his teachers and his family are largely instrumental in making and marring is future. The passage under study is a fine reflection of this and can be regarded as symbolic of problems faced by children in their formative years on account of rigid and unreasonable pressures from the adult world.