Page 36 - FS-Little Prince

When the Prince demanded the best bow and arrows, the boys knew with whom they were dealing (his irrational belief that he should have what he wants when he wants it) and the behavior he would exhibit if his irrational beliefs are frustrated.
Therefore, they complied, which only reinforces the Prince’s irrationality. No one attempts to instruct or correct his shooting and this part of the story ends when he becomes frustrated and destroys the bow and arrows. Obviously, this is very childish behavior but isn’t it similar to the “Little Prince” adult in the work place that is not given a particular task because the foreman just does not want to put up with his/her “grief.” The husband or wife who will not voice an objection to the over spending of the other for fear of what the other might do or say.
We have any number of adult correlations to the Prince’s behavior and the behavior of the “boys shooting arrows” in real life. Once again, we have drugs and alcohol coming into the picture as a coping mechanism for both the “Prince” and the other characters who must tolerate this irrationality. The “boys shooting arrows” will drink to numb the anxiety and anger they feel when they must deal with their own complimentary irrational beliefs “If I confront them they will (get angry... make a scene... hit me... leave me.”
It is not a coincidence that adults who have not changed or modified their “Little Prince” thinking, associate with “same thinking” peers and are attracted to others who will reinforce their irrationality. The anxiety associated with having to deal with life in any fashion that is contradictory to their irrational beliefs is overwhelming.
33