The Little Prince Group

Question:

dvanbramer88
dvanbramer88
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In The Little Prince, if the fox already knows how to tame himself, why does he need someone to do it for him?

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Posted by dvanbramer88 on Monday December 29, 2008 at 10:00 AM and tagged with characters, fox, the little prince, themes.

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  1. timbrady Teacher
    College - Senior

    eNotes Editor

    The issue of taming has less to do with what we would associate with a wild animal and more to do with establishing relationships.  The fox makes an important statement when he says:  "You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."  When he says "tame me" he is really saying, relate to me, bond with me, be a part of me, ultimately be responsible for me.  In a similar vein, he says "It is the time you have spent with your rose that makes your rose so important."

    The use of "tame" is interesting because it hints at something wild in each of us that can only be brought under control when we are tamed, when we have established bonds that join us to others.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/little-prince-qn/social-concerns-th...

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    Posted by timbrady on Monday December 29, 2008 at 6:58 PM