“Men have forgotten this truth, said the fox. But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”
– Antoine De Saint Exupery
I love the fox in Antoine de Saint Exupery’s novel, “The Little Prince.” He understands life and love and all things that are good and wise and make us realize what is so great about life. He understands that we can tame other beings and that the love that we gain for the other beings as a result of taming them is a responsibility. And that is something that I am in the process of understanding because of my precious girl, Trinity. I don’t know as much as the fox because I don’t have that kind of wisdom. But I do understand that I have formed a bond with a cat. She is a rescue cat that I never set out to tame. I just wanted her to find some comfort and peace after the ordeal that she went through until she found her furever home. After a few months, I realized that I was her furever home. She purred and she kissed me and she adopted me.
The picture above is a cute image of a fox. I learned how to draw it at a wonderful online drawing class, taught by Nikki Milley, a professional artist who lives in Western New York. She taught us how to make shapes and then to create design from those shapes. She’s a very supportive, encouraging teacher, and she truly loves animals. She draws beautiful animals because she loves them. She and the animals have tamed each other, and her artwork reflects her joy and their joy. Drawing cutesy animals is one way to show that you love the animals that you have tamed, as well as those that you have not. To make your critter cute, Nikki says, just give it large features, which would include big ears and a big head. It looks kind of out of proportion, but it does look cute. Maybe because human babies have huge heads that are totally out of proportion to the rest of their bodies. And they look very cute. Maybe I will make more cutesy animals and write a book where they tame each other. How are they changed as a result of being responsible for one another, when their stories intertwine? Fiction, though, has to have conflict, either interpersonal or intrapersonal, to be complete. And it’s hard to tame others and even harder to be responsible for others.
“All men have stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems… But all these stars are silent. You-You alone will have stars as no one else has them.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The fox above is something that I drew to give to an online friend who likes foxes. He was really happy with the gift of a fox. It is a cartoony fox, to be sure, but it is a gift fox. And that’s part of the magic of the internet: making friends with people who live far away, to create those interesting and sometimes unexpected and unlikely connections. Sort of like a little prince and a fox.
Alice, I used to have The Little Prince in English and in French. So I’m doubly charmed by your using these quotes. I love the stars. And I totally agree with you about the responsibility that goes with taming a being.
Such a wonderful post. Thank you for adding me into your story. I love your cutesy fox and I look forward to reading more of your writing and seeing more of your artwork!
Beautifully written.
I just realized it is April and the A to Z challenge. I have definitely been under a rock (and I bet you could draw a fantastic rock!) Love hearing about your lessons in art making. Smiles were born here today.
oh how I adore that cutesy fox!! and I love The Little Prince..