The Little Prince Summary
Description
Here you will find a The Little Prince summary (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters
Chapters The Little Prince Summary Overview
A stranded aviator, having crash-landed in the Sahara, finds unexpected companionship with a solemn, golden-haired boy who requests a sketch of a sheep. They bond, and the boy reveals he hails from a tiny asteroid he refers to as Asteroid 325, known on Earth as Asteroid B-612. He tells the aviator about the meticulous care he took of his home, ensuring it was never infested by baobab trees, and about a unique rose that bloomed on his planet, which he loved. The rose's dishonesty caused him to lose trust, leading him to feel isolated, and despite mending their relationship, he departed his home to explore other planets and alleviate his solitude. On his journey, the boy visits several other asteroids, each inhabited by solitary adults engrossed in their pursuits. The boy is both entertained and puzzled by their behaviour, not comprehending their need for control, admiration, and possession. Except for the dutiful lamplighter, he does not find much value in his interactions with these adults, learning nothing beneficial. However, a geographer he meets makes him realize the transience of flowers, causing him to miss his rose. Following the geographer's advice, the boy travels to Earth, landing in a barren desert. He encounters a cryptic snake offering to send him back to his asteroid through its lethal venom, which he declines. He converses with a three-petaled flower, ascends the highest mountain he finds, and discovers a garden of roses, which saddens him as his rose had claimed to be the only one of her kind. The boy befriends a fox who enlightens him about the significance of love and emotional bonds. Realizing his rose is special due to his love for her and his responsibility towards her, the boy still feels lonely due to their separation. On the eighth day of the aviator's desert ordeal, the two search for a well, and the water they find quenches not just their physical thirst but also their spiritual longing. Amidst their shared happiness, the boy decides to return to his rose, making arrangements with the snake. The aviator succeeds in fixing his plane just before the boy's departure and witnesses the snake bite him. The following day, the boy's missing body convinces the aviator that the boy has returned to his asteroid, finding solace in the sound of his friend's laughter in the stars. However, the aviator occasionally feels melancholy, worrying if the sheep he drew might have eaten the boy's rose. He invites his readers to pause under the stars if they are ever nearby, and inform him if the boy has returned.
chapter 1
The storyteller reveals that as a six-year-old, he was engrossed by a book image of a boa constrictor ingesting a primitive creature. This snake, after eating, had to rest for six months to complete digestion. This fascination led to him sketching his first piece, 'Drawing Number One'. The art showed a boa constrictor in the process of digesting an elephant, but adults mistook it for a hat as it appeared as a lumpy form with two straight lines extending on both sides. In an attempt to clarify his art to the adults, he created 'Drawing Number Two', which was an internal view of the first drawing, revealing the elephant inside the snake. This portrayal was unsettling for the adults who then suggested him to focus on studies like geography, arithmetic, and grammar instead of drawing. This incident made him understand that adults always needed explanations. Consequently, he quit his fascination with art and chose to become a pilot, where the knowledge of geography proved beneficial. The storyteller's perception of adults remained critical. Whenever he encountered an adult, he would show them 'Drawing Number One'. They would invariably identify it as a hat, reinforcing his belief that adults were only capable of discussing dull, practical matters such as politics and neckties.
chapter 2
The narrator, who has felt isolated all his life, finds himself stranded in the Sahara desert six years prior to sharing his story due to a plane crash. Suddenly, he hears an unusual voice asking for a drawing of a sheep. Turning around, he encounters the little prince. The prince appears as a small, blond boy, yet his gaze is intense and devoid of the fear expected from a child lost in the desert. The narrator, unfamiliar with drawing sheep, sketches an elephant inside a boa constrictor, which the prince accurately identifies. However, the prince insists on a sheep drawing. The narrator sketches three sheep, all of which the prince rejects. Eventually, the narrator draws a box, explaining it contains the exact sheep the prince wants. This makes the little prince extremely pleased. Then the prince expresses concern about the sheep having enough to eat, revealing his home is rather tiny.
chapter 3
The aviator attempts to understand the origin of his enigmatic new companion, although the little prince seems more interested in posing inquiries than replying to them. The prince's curiosity leads him to ask the aviator about his aircraft and its functions. The aviator explains that the aircraft allows him to soar through the skies. This reassures the little prince who is glad to know the aviator also hails from the sky as he inquires about the aviator's home planet. The aviator, taken aback by this, tries to learn about the prince's home planet. However, the prince dismisses the aviator's questions, transfixed by the sheep the aviator has sketched for him. To prevent the sheep from straying, the aviator suggests drawing a pole and a leash, but the little prince finds this amusing. According to the prince, the sheep won't wander away because he originates from a minuscule planet.
chapter 4
The narrator learns from his chat with the little prince that the prince's home planet is as tiny as a house. He shares that astronomers don't name new planets, but assign them numbers. The narrator thinks the little prince comes from Asteroid B-612, first spotted by a Turkish astronomer in 1909. However, his discovery was mocked at the International Astronomical Congress that year because of his traditional Turkish attire. But when a Turkish dictator enforced European clothing, the astronomer's report got a warmer reception in 1920. The narrator mentions these facts about the prince's planet only to appease adult readers, stating adults only grasp facts and figures. They don't contemplate on things like love and beauty. They use age or cost to determine beauty. For adults to accept the little prince's existence, they need more than the narrator's word that the prince asked him to sketch a sheep. They want quantifiable confirmation of the prince's existence. The narrator also wants readers to pay close attention to his book. Recalling his memories of his little friend who is no longer with him has been difficult. He fears he is aging and writes this story to remember the little prince. Sketching the pictures specifically reminds him of childhood. But he accepts he can't see sheep inside boxes, admitting that like everyone else, he has “had to grow old.”
chapter 5
The pilot gradually uncovers more about the little prince's homeland each day. During the prince's third day visit, the pilot learns that the prince wishes for the sheep to consume the baobab sprouts on his planet. The baobabs, being enormous trees, could shatter the prince's minuscule planet with their roots. The little prince highlights the importance of meticulous planetary care. He emphasizes constant vigilance and discipline to eliminate the harmful plants from the onset of their growth. He recollects a lethargic man who neglected three tiny baobab shrubs that eventually overwhelmed his planet. The narrator sketches the overrun planet per the prince's directive, intending it as a cautionary tale for kids. The narrator also points out that baobabs present a daily danger that many people unwittingly encounter. He asserts that the baobabs' story imparts a valuable lesson, so he illustrates them with extra precision compared to other drawings in the book.
chapter 6
During the narrator's fourth day accompanying the little prince, he grasps the true minuscule size of the prince's home planet. The prince is taken aback by having to await the sun's descent to witness a sunset on Earth. On his own planet, one merely needs to move a bit to see the day's end whenever desired. He shares that he once viewed forty-four sunsets in a single day, adding that such sights can lift one's spirits during melancholy moments. Yet, he keeps it a secret from the narrator whether he was feeling blue the day he experienced the forty-four sunsets.
chapter 7
On his fifth desert day, the tiny prince is curious whether his sheep would feed on both plants and blooms. The aviator, engrossed in fixing his aircraft, states sheep eat everything. The prince then questions the usefulness of flower thorns if they can't shield the bloom. Consumed by worry over his engine, food and water scarcity, the pilot retorts that he is preoccupied with “serious matters” and has no time for such queries. Infuriated, the prince scolds the pilot for behaving like an adult and neglecting what truly matters. According to the prince, if a unique bloom resides on one's planet, nothing surpasses the concern whether a sheep would consume it. He breaks down crying. The narrator, recognizing that the prince's joy is the most significant concern, embraces the prince to console him. He assures the prince his bloom will be safe and suggests sketching a muzzle for the sheep.
chapter 8
The prince confides in the pilot about his beloved flower. Observing an unknown sprout on his planet, the prince is initially circumspect, fearing it might be another baobab. This sprout unfurls into a rose, lovely but self-conceited, expecting constant attention from the prince. Regardless, the prince cherishes the rose, catering to her needs by watering her, shielding her from cold nights with a glass globe, and securing her from wind using a screen. However, the rose is caught on the brink of a trivial lie, stating “Where I come from,” when in reality she's a bloom from his planet, not hailing from anywhere. This deception triggers doubts in the prince's mind about her love, leading to his immense sadness and isolation, provoking his decision to depart from his planet. The prince conveys to the pilot that had he focused on the rose’s actions instead of her words, he wouldn’t have left, realizing her love towards him was genuine. Yet he admits his inexperience in understanding and reciprocating her love.
chapter 9
The little prince decides to leave his planet, and to prepare, he tidies all his three volcanoes, even the inactive one, and removes any baobab sprouts he finds. He gives his rose one last watering. As he is about to cover the rose's head with a glass globe, a wave of sadness hits him. He bids farewell to the rose, and initially, she doesn't respond. However, she soon apologizes, reassures the little prince of her love for him, and assures him she doesn't need the globe anymore. The rose insists she can survive without his care. She encourages the little prince to go and turns her back so he won't see her tears.
chapter 10
The little prince arrives near asteroids 325 to 330 and chooses to explore each one. His first visit is to an asteroid inhabited by a king draped in a splendid fur cloak. The king, thrilled to finally command someone, begins to direct the little prince. He proclaims dominion over all stars yet adjusts his commands to suit the actions of the person he rules. For instance, if the prince yawns, the king promptly "orders" him to yawn. When the prince requests a sunset, the king consents but stipulates the sun will comply at 7:40 P.M., a time he deduces from an almanac. The king emphasizes the importance of obeying his commands, but being benevolent, he ensures they are manageable. He believes his reasonableness entitles him to command. When the prince decides to leave, the king attempts to retain him by appointing him minister of justice. The prince considers this absurd, noting there's no one to judge on the planet. Undeterred, the king suggests the prince can repeatedly sentence to death, pardon, and re-condemn the planet's lone rat. The prince dismisses this, having no desire to condemn anyone. As he's leaving, the king designates him his ambassador. The prince observes that grown-ups are peculiar.
chapter 11
The prince's next stop is a planet with a single, vain inhabitant. The man requests applause from the prince, and with a humble nod, acknowledges it. Initially, the prince finds this amusing but soon grows bored with the repetitiveness. The vanity-filled man desires to know if the prince admires him. However, the concept of "admire" is foreign to the prince. The man clarifies his desire for the prince to declare him the most intelligent, most handsome, and richest man on his lonely planet. The prince finds this laughable, pointing out the man's solitary existence on the planet. Indifferently, the prince complies, saying, "I admire you," but questions why the man values his admiration. Leaving the strange man behind, he remarks once more on the oddness of adults.
chapter 12
The little prince's journey leads him to a third celestial body, where he encounters an alcoholic. Upon questioning, the man tells the prince that he imbibes to escape his reality. The prince, filled with compassion, probes deeper, asking what it is the man is trying to run away from. The man admits his shame about his drinking habit is what he's trying to drown. Surprisingly, the man then becomes uncommunicative. Baffled by this, the prince proceeds on his voyage, reflecting on the peculiar nature of adults.
chapter 13
The little prince lands on a new planet, inhabited by a businessman engrossed in calculations, ignoring the prince's presence. Despite the businessman's reluctance, the curious prince insists on knowing what the man is busy with. The businessman, vexed by the prince's tenacity, eventually states he's counting "those little golden things that make lazy people daydream" - stars, as concluded by the prince. The businessman claims ownership of the stars as he was the first to think of it. The prince finds the businessman's reasoning as ridiculous as the drunkard's, yet he concedes that the man owns the stars due to his original thought of possessing them. Inquiring about the businessman's use of the stars, the prince learns that the man records their numbers and keeps them in a bank. The prince rebukes the man's actions as meaningless and contrasts it with his own possessions - a rose and three volcanoes, which he nurtures. He believes his ownership serves a purpose, unlike the businessman's. The businessman is dumbfounded by the prince's comment. The prince, bemused, notes adults are indeed "extraordinary" and moves forward on his journey.
chapter 14
The prince's fifth planetary stop is tiny, only accommodating a street lamp and its keeper. At first, he thinks the lamplighter is as peculiar as his previous encounters, but he appreciates the beauty in his task. The lamplighter is tasked to turn off his lamp by day and light it at night. However, the rapid rotation of his planet turns day into night every minute, leaving him in a constant cycle of lighting and extinguishing his lamp. The prince respects the lamplighter’s dutiful nature and considers him the only person he's met that he could call a friend. He suggests the lamplighter should keep pace with the sunset to avoid his relentless task. The lamplighter admits he yearns for sleep. The tiny planet can't accommodate both of them, so the prince leaves, saddened to part from the lamplighter and a planet that offers 1,440 sunsets per day.
chapter 15
Upon reaching the sixth planet, the little prince comes across a geographer who authors books. The geographer claims to know the location of every sea, mountain, city, and desert but admits to having no knowledge of his own planet. He defends his ignorance by stating that his role is not to explore but to collect and confirm information from explorers of good character. Inquiring about the prince's own planet, the geographer learns of three volcanoes and a flower. He disregards the flower as it is "ephemeral," meaning it's facing an "imminent disappearance." This revelation distresses the prince, causing him to second guess his decision to leave his rose. Seeking advice on his next destination, the geographer points him towards Earth, renowned for its good reputation. With thoughts of his rose, the little prince heads for Earth.
chapter 16
The little prince is introduced to Earth by the narrator, a planet of unimaginable size to the prince. The narrator paints a picture of the nearly two billion adults inhabiting the planet, including countless kings, geographers, businessmen, and an array of drunkards and vain individuals. The narrator reflects on a time before electricity, when 462,511 lamplighters engaged in a synchronized daily ritual, lighting up the world as the sun moved across the planet. Only the lamplighters at the extreme poles were exempt from this routine, as their services were needed just twice a year.
chapter 17
The storyteller concedes that his portrayal of Earth is misleading, as humans occupy only a tiny fraction of Earth's space and aren't as crucial as they believe themselves to be. The prince is puzzled to find Earth devoid of people upon his arrival. He encounters a snake who tells him he's in the African desert, a place devoid of humans. The prince comments on the loneliness of the desert, to which the snake cryptically responds, it's also lonely among men. The snake hints at his deadly bite's capacity to return the prince to the stars with a single "touch," yet refrains, considering the prince too "innocent." The prince questions the snake's tendency to communicate in puzzles. The snake retorts, "I solve them all," leading to a mutual silence.
chapter 18
In his desert exploration, the little prince comes across a flower with three petals. This flower, having once witnessed a caravan in transit, shares with the little prince that the Earth is sparsely populated by men. These men, according to the flower, lack roots, which allows the wind to easily displace them, consequently making their existence difficult.
chapter 19
The petite royal decides to ascend the tallest peak he's ever laid eyes on. He anticipates that from the summit, he would be able to view the entire planet and locate individuals. To his disappointment, all he observes is an isolated, rugged terrain. When he shouts, his own echo responds, leading him to believe these are people responding. He forms an opinion about Earth as being excessively tough and harsh, and feels it's strange that Earth's inhabitants only echo his words back to him.
chapter 20
Ultimately, the prince stumbles upon a path that guides him to an expansive garden full of roses. He's taken aback by the sight of numerous flowers identical to his own rose, who claimed to be the only one of her kind. This leads him to question his significance as a prince, given his planet is home to just three small volcanoes and a flower he now perceives as ordinary. Overwhelmed with disappointment, he reclines in the grass and breaks down in tears.
chapter 21
The little prince encounters a fox while weeping and invites him to play to alleviate his sadness. The fox insists on being tamed first and describes taming as establishing bonds. Currently, they mean nothing to each other but if tamed, they would become special and indispensable to each other. The prince implies that he's been tamed by a rose and inadvertently reveals his extraterrestrial origin. The fox initially expresses excitement but loses interest when he realizes the prince's planet lacks chickens. The fox details his monotonous existence, hunting chickens and evading humans. If tamed by the prince, he could anticipate the prince's footsteps instead of fearing human ones. The prince's golden hair would bring joy, reminding the fox of golden fields. The prince, although interested, mentions his time constraints and his search for friends. The fox convinces him that taming is the route to friendship, guiding him through the process and emphasizing the importance of rituals. The prince tames the fox, but their impending separation saddens the fox. Despite the prince's argument that the fox initiated their friendship, the fox insists it was worth it as it made him appreciate the wheat fields more. Before parting, the fox advises the prince to revisit the rose garden and promises to reveal a secret at their farewell. In the garden, the prince recognizes his rose's uniqueness. Like the fox, the rose is special to him because of the care and love invested in it. He shares this insight with the roses before returning to the fox. The fox imparts his threefold secret: clear vision is heart-based, not eye-based; the time spent on the rose makes it important; and one is eternally accountable for what they've tamed.
chapter 22
The little prince encounters a railway switchman during his travels. With the sound of trains in the background, the switchman elucidates that the trains ferry individuals from one place to another. The prince queries if the constant movement is due to dissatisfaction, to which the switchman says people are always discontented with their current location. The prince wonders if they are pursuing something, but the switchman states they are not in pursuit of anything. He points out that only children treasure the journey, pressing their faces against the train windows, absorbed in the passing scenery. The prince observes that “only the children know what they’re looking for,” adding that children attribute great significance to simple objects like a rag doll, to the point of tears if it's taken away. The switchman concurs, saying the children are indeed fortunate.
chapter 23
The little prince encounters a vendor peddling pills that can suppress thirst. The salesman expounds that these pills eliminate the need for any drink, allowing for a saving of around fifty-three minutes daily. The prince, in response, states that he would use these fifty-three minutes to amble leisurely towards a frosty fountain if he had the time.
chapter 24
The pilot, now eight days stranded in the desert and without water, is preoccupied by his thirst and shows little interest in the prince's tales about the fox. The prince, however, insists on the importance of friendship, even in the face of death. He also reveals his thirst, suggesting they look for a well. Although it seems nonsensical, the pilot agrees. Walking through the desert, they discuss beauty. The prince believes the desert's charm lies in its hidden well. This reminds the pilot of his childhood home, rumored to hide treasures, leading him to understand that beauty's source is always hidden and unseen. The prince is pleased by the pilot's comprehension of the fox's teachings and falls asleep. The pilot, moved by the delicate beauty of the prince and his deep love for his rose, carries him. As dawn breaks, they discover the well they've been seeking.
chapter 25
While drawing water from a well, the narrator and the prince find it surprisingly sweet, a sensation they attribute to the context in which it's consumed. They both reflect on how humans often overlook the true essence of their desires, seeking abundance when fulfillment lies within the simple things, like a single rose or a water droplet. The prince quips that this is because humans see with their eyes and not their hearts. The prince prompts the narrator to fulfill his promise of sketching a muzzle for his sheep. Looking at the narrator's drawings, the prince chuckles at their simplicity but approves of them since children would comprehend them. The narrator hands over the muzzle sketch to the prince, but senses the prince is concealing some plans. He speculates this secrecy might have something to do with the upcoming anniversary of the prince's arrival on Earth. Despite the prince's denial, the narrator's suspicion is confirmed by the prince's blush. Suddenly, the narrator experiences a wave of sorrow, recalling the fox's teaching about the inherent pain of forming attachments and being tamed, symbolized by tears.
chapter 26
The pilot discovers the little prince in conversation with an unseen entity by a well, discussing potential plans involving poison. When the prince asks the unseen entity to depart, the pilot spots a snake, the same one from the prince's initial arrival on Earth. The pilot tries to shoot the snake, but it evades him, leaving him to care for the fearful and pale prince. The prince praises the pilot for repairing his plane and hints at a more arduous journey he is about to undertake. The prince predicts his heightened fear and attempts to comfort the pilot by indicating the stars, now imbued with significance as they house a friend. The prince's serious demeanor returns as he insists on embarking on his journey alone, warning it may appear as if he's dying. He also expresses concern about the snake not stopping at a single bite, potentially endangering the pilot. The prince slips away in the night, but the persistent pilot follows, unwilling to leave him. The prince tries to reassure the pilot, stating his physical body is merely a heavy shell he can't carry to the heavens. The pilot remains unconvinced, and the prince's resolve wavers, leading to his emotional breakdown. As the terrified prince confesses his rose needs him, he abruptly goes silent, struck by the snake. His fall is so gentle, it makes no sound.
chapter 27
Gaze at the heavens and wonder, “Did the sheep consume the flower?” You'll realize how everything shifts. No adult could ever grasp the significance of such a matter! Half a decade later, the storyteller contemplates his friend's fate. He's certain the prince returned to his world because the snake's venom left no trace of the prince the next morning. The storyteller's companions are happy for his return, and the stars remind him of the delicate jingle of many little bells. However, the storyteller frets about forgetting to sketch a muzzle strap for the sheep, which could lead to it eating the rose. He occasionally comforts himself, believing the prince wouldn't allow this, but then he remembers unexpected incidents do occur, and the jingling bells transform into the echo of weeping. He confesses his feelings remain a mystery, much like everyone else who cherished the little prince. Regardless, each time he stares at the stars, the uncertainty of whether the sheep has consumed the rose reshapes his perspective. He notes, quite astoundingly, that adults could never comprehend this apprehension.
epilogue
The narrator presents an image of a desert scene, identical to the last chapter's illustration, but without the prince. He describes it as the most melancholic yet beautiful scenery in the world. He urges us, should we find ourselves in the Sahara, to be vigilant for this landscape and invite us to pause under the stars if we encounter it. The narrator appeals to us to alleviate his sorrow by promptly informing him if we ever cross paths with the little prince.
