Here we have a summary and analysis of The Little Prince 17–22
Chapter 17: Arrival on Earth and the Voice of the Snake
The Little Prince chapters 17–22 summary and analysis. The narrator begins by humbly admitting that his description of Earth may seem exaggerated, as human beings actually occupy only a tiny fraction of the planet and are far less central than they believe themselves to be. When the little prince finally arrives on Earth, he is surprised by its silence. Expecting crowds, he instead finds himself alone in the vast African desert.
His first encounter is with a snake, a mysterious and symbolic creature. The snake tells the prince he has landed in a place without people. He makes a striking remark—loneliness can exist even among men. Speaking in riddles, the snake hints at his deadly bite and suggests that a single touch could send the prince back to the stars. Yet he holds back, sensing the prince’s innocence. When asked about his cryptic words, he calmly replies that he solves all riddles himself. Their conversation ends in thoughtful, tense silence.
Here we have summary and analysis of The Little Prince 17–22
Chapter 18: The Flower’s Observation of Humanity
As the little prince continues his search for human beings, he meets a small, three-petaled flower growing in the desert. Though fragile in appearance, the flower offers a sharp insight into human nature. Having once seen a caravan pass by, the flower tells the prince that humans are few in number and strangely rootless.
According to the flower, men lack stability and belonging; they are constantly moved by circumstances, much like leaves blown by the wind. This rootlessness, she explains, makes life difficult for them. Through this brief encounter, Saint-Exupéry subtly comments on humanity’s lack of grounding and emotional connection.
Here we have summary and analysis of The Little Prince 17–22
Chapter 19: The Mountain and the Echo
The little prince then climbs the tallest mountain he has ever encountered, hoping that from its peak he might see the entire planet and finally find people. Instead, he is met with a bleak, rocky landscape stretching endlessly before him. When he calls out, his voice is returned by an echo, which he initially mistakes for human responses.
Disappointed, the prince reflects that Earth seems harsh and unwelcoming. He finds it strange that people merely repeat what is said to them, suggesting a lack of originality and true communication. This moment highlights the emptiness of superficial interactions and the prince’s growing confusion about human behavior.
Chapter 20: The Rose Garden and the Prince’s Heartbreak
Eventually, the little prince comes upon a road that leads him to a vast garden filled with roses. The sight overwhelms him. Until now, he believed his rose was one of a kind, having been told she was unique in the universe. Surrounded by countless identical flowers, he feels betrayed and deeply saddened.
The realization shakes his sense of self-worth. He begins to see himself as insignificant—a prince of a tiny planet with only three small volcanoes and a flower he now believes is ordinary. Overcome with emotion, he lies down in the grass and weeps, marking one of the most emotionally vulnerable moments in his journey.
Analysis: Chapters 17–20
Like the destructive baobabs, the snake the little prince meets in Chapter 17 is a hidden danger. He recalls the biblical serpent that tempted Adam and Eve, leading to their fall. In The Little Prince, the snake symbolizes temptation, escape, and the quiet presence of death.
From their first interaction, the snake speaks in an intentionally mysterious and suggestive manner.He boasts of his venom and hints that a single bite could send the little prince back to the stars. It is not a threat, but a tempting promise—an effortless escape from struggle. Though he says he cannot harm someone as pure as the prince, his words suggest that the prince is too fragile for the harshness of Earth.
What makes the snake particularly unsettling is his passivity. He does not force action but instead waits for consent, suggesting that destruction often requires an invitation. In this way, the snake embodies the dangerous appeal of escape—the temptation to abandon responsibility, pain, and growth in favor of an effortless solution. His presence foreshadows later events in the story and reinforces one of the novel’s central ideas: that true courage lies in facing life’s difficulties rather than fleeing from them.
Summary: Chapter 21
As the little prince cries alone in the grass, he meets a fox. Wanting companionship, the prince asks the fox to play with him, but the fox explains that they cannot play unless the prince first tames him. When the prince asks what “tame” means, the fox explains that it is to establish ties. At present, they mean nothing to each other, but once tamed, they will become unique and important in one another’s lives.
The little prince mentions that he believes he has already been tamed by a rose and reveals that he comes from another planet. Although this briefly interests the fox, he soon returns to describing his own life, which never changes. He hunts chickens, and humans hunt him. However, if the prince tames him, the fox explains that his life will gain meaning. The prince’s footsteps will bring joy instead of fear, and the golden wheat fields will remind him of his friend.
The fox insists that the prince must have patience and commitment to build a friendship, even as he worries about time and searches for friends.. He introduces the idea of rituals, explaining that they make certain moments special and give structure and value to relationships.
After the prince tames the fox, it is time for them to part. The fox admits that he will cry, but he insists that the experience has been worthwhile because it has taught him to appreciate beauty and friendship. Before leaving, the fox asks the prince to visit the rose garden again.
When the prince sees the roses, he realizes that his rose is unique not because of her appearance, but because of the love and care he has given her. Returning to say goodbye, the fox shares his final secret: what is essential is invisible to the eye. He reminds the prince that the time spent on his rose makes her special and that one is forever responsible for what one has tamed.
Summary: Chapter 22
Continuing his journey across Earth, the little prince meets a railway switchman, a man whose job is to direct trains from one track to another. As trains thunder past at great speed, the switchman explains that they carry crowds of people from place to place, never staying long in one spot. Curious, the little prince asks whether people are constantly moving because they are unhappy where they are. The switchman replies that dissatisfaction follows people wherever they go.
The prince then wonders if the travelers are searching for something important. However, the switchman explains that most of them are not truly seeking anything at all. They rush from one destination to another without knowing what they want. Only the children, he observes, behave differently. They press their faces against the train windows, watching the world pass by with wonder and attention.
The little prince reflects that children alone understand what truly matters. They are capable of valuing simple things deeply. He explains that if a child treasures something as ordinary as a rag doll, its loss can bring genuine sorrow. The switchman agrees, concluding that children are the fortunate ones because they know how to look, feel, and care in a way adults have forgotten.
Analysis: Chapters 21–22 (The Little Prince)
Introduction
Chapters 21 and 22 form the emotional and philosophical heart of The Little Prince. Through the encounters with the fox and the railway switchman, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry contrasts meaningful relationships with the restless, purposeless movement of modern life.
In Chapter 21, the fox introduces the idea of taming. He calls it “establishing ties.” This shows that relationships gain value through care, time, and commitment. Unlike adults, who often avoid attachment, the fox accepts pain as part of love. True happiness, he teaches, cannot exist without vulnerability. His famous lesson—what is essential is invisible to the eye—challenges judging by appearances. The fox also teaches responsibility: one is forever accountable for those one has tamed. Even in the abridged version, this message is powerful. Love creates uniqueness and meaning.
Chapter 22 shifts focus from emotional connection to society’s constant motion. The railway switchman represents the mechanical rhythm of adult life, where people move endlessly from place to place without understanding what they truly want. Trains symbolize speed, restlessness, and dissatisfaction. The switchman’s observation that people are never content highlights the emptiness of a life driven by routine and ambition rather than purpose.
In contrast, children are portrayed as the only ones who truly see. They press their faces to train windows, observing the world with curiosity and care. The little prince’s reflection on a child cherishing a simple toy reinforces the fox’s lesson: value comes not from possession but from emotional attachment. Children, unlike adults, understand what matters because they invest their hearts, not just their time.
Together, these chapters criticize modern adult life while celebrating emotional awareness, patience, and responsibility. The abridged version preserves this contrast effectively, reminding readers that love, attention, and meaningful bonds—not speed or success—give life its true worth.
Hope you enjoyed the summary and analysis of The Little Prince 17–22