Student Question

How does the Little Prince feel upon arriving on earth?

Quick answer:

Upon arriving on Earth, the Little Prince is surprised by its vastness and puzzled by the absence of people, which is because he landed in the desert. He feels lonely, missing his rose, and is deeply upset upon discovering a wall of roses identical to his own, realizing she is not unique. This revelation diminishes his view of her and leads him to feel sorrowful and cry.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

When the Little Prince first arrives on earth, he is surprised at how very big it is and wonders why he sees no people. He learns this is because he landed on the desert and nobody lives in the desert. But he also learns that all the people on the earth, if stood up side by side, could fit into twenty square miles.

The Little Prince is lonely when he first arrives on earth because he misses his rose. He is then stunned and upset when he sees a whole wall of roses. His rose told him she was the only one of her kind, and he believed her. Now he feels diminished that she is not unique in the universe and, instead, only an ordinary rose. He also believes she would feel humiliated to find out she is one of so many roses that are all the same. He lays down and cries.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial