The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and the dilemma of “tame”
Back at NYU, Tom and I once had an argument about this word — “to tame.” Tom was saying that this word cannot be applied to people — only to animals. I was trying to explain that in this book the meaning was different and all the animals and people were all equal. Since it was before the Google time, it took me a long stay on the top floor at Bobst Library to learn that French “tame” and Russian “приручить” — “create trust” — have a different meaning than English “to tame” which basically means to train an animal.
The older I get, the more often this book that seemed so boring when I was little and my mother tried to open up my mind comes to mind. This little guy travels around and talks, and talks, and talks, and thinks…
Maybe growing up in the old world and living in the new one makes it challenging to adjust to how far ahead the new is with shaking off the old and the Fox…
And here he strikes again.
I haven’t read this book in probably 15 years, but I think it is time I revisit it!
At every stage of life it takes on a different meaning. never gets old, only get more important as the world becomes more indifferent and unkind.
Awsaf loved this book as a child and still as an adult. He tries to read to any child he can!
Agree. It is probably one of the most important books that has ever been written.
А я впервые прочла эту книгу в шестнадцать и была потрясена некоторыми мыслями настолько, что залпом прочла всего Экзюпери. “Планета людей” была одной из любимых долгие годы.
А «Маленького принца» дарила и дарю всем любимым друзьям, большим и маленьким:)