CHAPTER SUMMARIES AND NOTES

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.

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