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Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School

1957

Antoine de Saint Exupery and the quest for truth

Owen Ardell Wollam The University of Montana

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Recommended Citation Wollam, Owen Ardell, "Antoine de Saint Exupery and the quest for truth" (1957). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 1570. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/1570

This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ANTOINE DE SAINT EXÜPERY

AND THE QUEST PW TRUTH

by

OWEN ARDELL WOLLAîî

B. A, MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY, I 9AC

Presented in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts MONTANA STATS UNIVERSITY

1957

Approved by:

r.imonj Board of Ex A Dean, Cïpaduato School

Dato UMI Number: EP35363

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Pa-o

FORElfARD...... Iv

B o te s , V ÎÜ Ghaptor

I* BIOGRAPHICAL SICETCH...... 1

M otes, 5 I I , CODES IN CONFLICT...... 6 La vie douce et protéréo, 6 La vie d*action, 9 The Questions, 12 N o te s , 13 I I I . A Î1EANI1IG FOR I^IAN...... 14 The F r a g ilit y o f Man, 14 Salvation tNrourh v.'or!:, 16 The leader, 17 Salvation throurh Creation, 18 N o te s , 20 IV , THE ESSENCE OF MAI...... 21

Relationships, 21 L’Etendue, 23 T rutli, 24 The R u le s, 25 S p i r i t , 26 K o to s, 29 V, A CODE FOR MAN ...... 30 The Individual, 30 The Model, 31 The Code, 34 Civilization, 36 N o te s, 39

- 11- CS^àptor xcs'e

V I. TÎÎE IIEGSAGE ...... 4l

Surnmary, 4î Conclusions, 44 " O tes, 46

BIBLIOGRAPHY...... 47

- i l l - FORE',;.iRD

Before bo^irnln# t'ls stuCy of Saint 2xupery,^ one nay find it useful to review cone of the critical naterial available, Excepting reviews of particular works, the material is not copious and, much of it appeared before the publication of Saint Exupory's nocthunous work Citadelle, Moreover, of the studies Imovjn to be In existence, few had been done by English v/ritors and few hrd been translated from the French, Of the French works on our c-’t'nor, o e of the most understanding is that of his very close friend, Won Worth, Worth indicates that the life of Saint Exup^ry was a continual search for ”s<5rénitd," but adds that it was 2 "une aspiration toujours d^çue,"" However, the latter part of his assumption is not capable of proof.

The depth of our author, it seons, has been rreatly 3 4 underestimated by both Maurois and Fowlie, Eiey botli place him among the adventurers and tend to emphasize his heroism. In the face of Saint hxupcry's explicit and C repeated repudiation of the code of the "toreador," they completely ignore the sensitive, compassionate nature of the man. Certainly, it was this very nature which spurred him to his reappraisal of marihlnd, Armand Hoog seems to agree that Saint Exup^ry was striving for a new meaning for

- I v - mankind* for he eaysi "Saint Sxupery a voulu or^er un nou­ veau mythe de force et de courage de l'Homme."^ André Gide, In hlB prefoce to Vol de nuit, appears to be in accord, for he praises Saint Exupéry for glvln'* us the hero "si suscep­ tible de tendresse," He adds that %4hat pleases him most, "c'est sa noblesse# Les faiblesses, les abandons, les dé-

(üiéancos de 1 *homme, nous l e s co n n a isso n s de r e s t e e t l a littérature de nos Jours n'est que trop habile à les dénon­ cer J modo ce surpassement de soi qu'obtient lo volonté ten­ due, c'est là ce que nous pvone surtout besoin qu'on nous - y montre." iCvon Gide is prone to ovorerp’ aslze the heroic tendency. Yves Lévy, in a fine article which appeared in the tTonacnn review, Paru, lias torched the essential mark of the philosophy of Saint Gxupéry when he writes t "Vertu sur­ humaine? Mais Gaint Exupéry eat l'homme qui plus qi'aucun autre tende à s'inscrire dans l'humain, . • • Il ne s'in­ téresse pas aux êtres mais plutôt à l'Homme et il fi"'Ira 8 par exalter l'Hoimne," Louis Barjon calls Saint Exuocr;: "l'hommo qui con­ quiert sa variété." Ke continues by saying that sacrifice is not enough; one must discover the reason for the sacri­ fice. This reason is the truth which is outside the indi­ vidual and which gives a value to life; the tri.it’:: .Alch surpasses the individual; truth -hlch is lasting; truth Q Which is the reality found in God. Huguet, in a recent study, says that Srlnt Exupéry 18 ^celui de le quête de l ’absolu, celui de l'attention passionnée à l'homne, et celui de la uarche vers Dieu"; that he has measured the extreme spiritual poverty of hia times and revealed its profoundest aspirations*^^ Daniel

Anet stresses "la force» la grandeur et la fécondité d'une philosophie de 1 'acceptation" for the entire species, and adds that the chief characteristic is optimism In his b elief in manJclnd.^^

Luo Estang is a bit more cautious. He ends his study on a tragic note, for he believes that there is "une tristesse exupérienne, quelque sentiment de l'échec en pro- 1 ^ fondeur, malgré les apparences d'une vie comblée." He says that in his continual pursuit of serenity, he never quite reaches his goal. Dr. Georges Pélissier, a good friend of Saint Exupéry, is of essentially the seme opinion. He says that Saint Exupéry "garda toujours une certaine 13 inquiétude spirituelle,"

An effort was made to obtain Haxi/ell Smith's A 14 ^night of the Air. the only full-length portrait of our author in English, but it did not arrive in tine for this s tu d y . This brief survey shows considerable variation among critics concerning the evaluation of the imrks and thouglit of Saint Exupéry. Suc^ variation is, perhaps, to be

03cpected, since our author seems not to follow/ the trend of Ids time in regard to his attitude toward Han, He, it

- V i - appears, believed in a apiritual progress which is denied, at least in part, by many of his contenporaries; to be searching for an inner peace or "eërënltd." To investigate Saint SsEup^ry's search for tiiis "sdr^nité" WAS the original plan of this study. However, there proved to be something greater, more universal» his quest for truth compatible with spiritual progress; for truth iTlilch he could communicate to Man, This quest, then, becaia© the subject of our study.

- v l l - NOTES

PORSWâRIJ

^ since the traditional spelling of Saint Sxup^ry is vritliout a hyphen, that spellinf, has been followed throurh- o u t .

^h6on V/erth, Tel cme Je I'M. oonnut (Paris* Editions du S e u i l , 1 9 4 9), p, l7^ “ 3 Andrd Maurois, "Antoine de Saint E:a;p(?ry," Etudes L ittéraires. II (New York ; Editions de la Kaison Française, 1944), pp. 153-84. 4 Wallace Powllo, "Kaaoue du héros littéraire, le poète de l ' action* Saint Exupéry," Les OlXivres Nouvelles. IV (New York: Editions de la Haison F*rençaiBC, li^44), p p . 110- 17 , 5 Soe Antoine de Saint Fxi>péry, Pilote de pu erre (Paris* Gallimard, 1942), p. l44, "Los toréadors vivent pour les spectateurs, nous ne ooîanios pas des toréadors." See Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Teri^ dos bonnes (Paris* G alli­ mard, 1939)» p. 180 , "Les toreadors ne me plaisent ruère." Hero, h® expresses hia diolike for tho "show-off." Here­ after, references to these works will simply be to Pilote de ruerre and to Terre des hommes. 6 Statem en t made by Dr. Jm ond Hoop o f P rin ceto n in his lectures on "Le Roman Contemporain" at lüddlebury Col­ le g e d u rin g th e summer o f 1956. Tîie author qu otes from notes Which he took at the lectures, 7 See André Glde's Preface to Antoine de Saint Exu­ péry 's Vol de nuit (Paris: Gallimard, 1931), p. 11. ^Yves Lévy, "Antoine de Saint Exunéry," Paru. Augwst-Septsmber, 1945, pp. 11-16, 'Louis Barjon, S* J ., "Un homme conquiert sa variété." Etudes. February, 1945, pp. 162-53. ^^Jean Huguet, Saint E^aioéry ou l*Enoel-ne^ont du désert (Paris* La Colombe, T95o), î^ . ”1T8-9,

- v i i i - Daniel Anet, Antoine âe s r ln t i n ____ romancier, moraliste (Paris» Sdltions Correa, 1 9^^ pp. 241-42.

^ ^ 1 1 0 Tûstanc:, S a in t Sxu-péry nar lul~"om e (E c riv a in s do toujours; Parlai Edi 11 dns lêiu Seul 1, 195(3 ),• p. 179. 13 Georges Pélissier, Les cinq vjsaffeg de S a in t Sxunéry (Parisf Flammarion, l55T), p. 110. 14 M axwell Sm ith, A Fwr.lrht o f th e Air (Few York: Pageant Press, 1956). “

, Ay* '*

- I x - CMAPTER I

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH^

Antoine Marie Roger d© Saint Exup^ry wao bom in

June 29, 1900. He me the third child of Count Jeon de Saint Saoipéry and Mario de Pone colombe. In 1904, his father died leaving a family of three daugiitors: Marie- Magdeleine, Simone and Gabrieli©; and tvfo sons: François and Antoine, to be raised and educated by Madame de Saint

Sscup^ry. The family left Lyon and the rest of Antoine's childhood was spent on the family estates in the south of

Fronce : The Chateau de lo. M5le and Saint-îîaurico-de-Reniens. Antoine began his schooling at Le Mans, entering Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix in 1909* He proved a restive and irregular student. In 1912, he made his first flight with the pilot ViSdrines* Antoine was very impressed. After leaving Sainte-Croix in 1914, Antoine and his brother, François, enrolled at the Coll&ge des Maristes at Fribourg but in 1917, they were forced to return to France because of the poor health of François, François died of rheumatic fever that same year, Antoine began preparation at the Ecole Bossuet in

Paris for the Ecole Navale. However, in 1919, he felled the examinations. Later, after spending some tine in the

— 1 — - 2 -

Ecolo do Beaux-Arte at Paris, he enlisted in the Air Force and was sent to Strasbourg. At this time, prior to becom­ ing on Air Force P ilot, one must already have soloed.

Therefore, Saint Exup^ry, by economizing, managed sufficient funds to begin his civil training. Finally, in June of 1921, he becpjne a student-off leer and was sent to Rabat in North Africa, vihero he fell under the spell of the Sahara,

His flanode'a family objected to his flying career,

GO in 1923» he abandoned it in favor of business. However, he was not happy; his only enjoyment lay in flying. At last,

one of his former teao’iers, the Abbd Sudour, suggested that

Saint Exupdry apply for a position trith the **Compagnie Adrienne Française," Hin application was accepted and in

the spring of 1927* after a few months spent in training and flying the mail between France and Spain, he vmo sent as airport manager to Cap Juby in Snanloh North Africa,

During his eighteen-month stay there, in addition to his daring rescues of pilots and equipment from the midst of hostile terrains and tribes, ho completed his first novel, Courrier 0ud which was published in 1928. In 1930, he was awarded the Legion of Honor for his exploits In Africa.

Meanwhile, his employer had appointed him director of tlx© "Compagnie Aeroposta Argentina." From experiences gained in South America, he composed his second book, Vol de nuit, will ch gained him the Prix Fémina in 1931. During his time in South America, he met Consuelo Suncln whom ho married in 1931. - 3 - lîie conpany lAilch had erroloyed hln failed, leaving him without a poBition. He tried various Jobs: test pilot, reporter, public relations officer. Then, dur1nr an attempt to break the record from Paris to Saigon In 1935, he and his mechanic and close friend. Prévôt, crashed In the Lyblan Desert, After five days with almost no water and lees hope, they were rescued by an Arab caravan.

Again, In 1938» while attempting another fllrht-- thls time from New York to Tlerra del ruogo--he crashed In Guatemala, His Injuries wore most serious and the long con­ valescence In New York permitted him to complete and publish

Terre des hommes In 1939* The some y ear he r e c e iv e d th e

Grand Prix du Roman from the Académie Française, With the outbreak of hostilities In Europe, Saint Exupéry Immediately le ft New York to talcc part In France's futile resistance. Then, with the sirring of the Armistice, he returned to til© United States, Here, he published Pilote de guerre in 1942, wiilch was Inspired by reconnaissance missions In France, Lettre ^ un otage and Le Petit prince followed In

1943, Later, when the Allies went 1 to Africa, Caimt Y:

In Africa, he was to be allowed only five mlcclons. However, these five missions extended to eight end finally to a ninth, that of July 31, 1944, idilch mo.b to have been hir, last.

From that mission, he never returned. - 4 -

He v;ae poathamouBly awerded the Grrrsd Prix Aéronau- tique, aiid in 1948, Citadelle which he had left in manu­ script, was published as it was found. NOTES

CHAPTER I

Antoine do Saint Vjrau'ifci I vfcf.xxz a de Crleenov. Antoine d Saint Exup^ry »S2*!SLS£S \ CU X CS • *WU.U. Wo. wi 1.0 O f 19% ); René' Delan-e, vie do Saint Exup&ry (Pmleî Edi­ tions n s du Seuil,s e u i l , 1 9 4 9;;); FPierre ie r Kessel, La Vio dedetlo St* Epipdry. Iles06 alWmSalbums photorrphotorrapb.lpues apb.l qUOB (Paris î : Galll:;r;rd, uaxxi:;: I-U, 193?) ; Georges^ 'Pelleeier,Fell sel ©r, Les olnoolnQ 'visages vis a/gps de Saintnt Exun^ry Exupéry (Paris: (Paris: Flan-F Flan-

1 ' T ï ' L’^ on W êrtîi 7 n a r lo n , 951 and T el.# "que crue «W .le IBW.le 1 *'r.l''r WMHOT i connu MiWNiMaptMMM»connu ( (Paris Editions duu Seuil,oeuxi, 1949)* Eaoh xuac 0? the fore poing; works will rive moremore detaileddetailed Information Informrtlon concerninr t' e life of our author

- 5 - CHAPTER II

CODES IN CONFLICT

Throughout the works of Saint Exupéry, two funda­ mental. though contradictory trends of thought can be dis­ c er n e d , One tren d w hich i s b o Infrequently stressed is toward "la vie douce et protégée," Though his occupation often Involved him in dangerous exploits, he maintained that ho really loved life, not danger. He had a great capacity for the enjoyment of the "good life," He loved beauty, music, art, nature ; he was fond of books; he had a passion for knicknaoka and mechanical gadgets—electric razors, recorders, phonographs, lighters—and wao always buying the latest models. Hov/ever, one must not infer that he was their slave, but rather that he exhibited a very human quality. It is this human quality vftiich has been given a secondary place, vAiiCh brings him close to humanity. Perhaps the origin of this feeling of closeness to humanity is to be found In his childhood which was a golden age for him. In an atmosphere of happiness, security and affection, ties were formed which remained with him throu^i- o u t h i 8 life and Wiich sustained him in times of solitude and d o u b t. In many of his books he recalls this period of

- 6- - 7 - contentment and always with the same reeling- of exaltation aiid peace, When he speaks of the family estate and the park surrounding it, he mokes of it somethinc unreal and enchontod; a wonderful world **peuplé de d.ieux,” a magic land "sombre et dor^,” "glaod et brûlant," where he once was completely happy. However, hio invocation is neither- immature nor weak; it is exceptionally virile and powerful*

®iat hio childhood was Indeed id yllic ^ras due largely to the intelligent, loving presence of his mother. £31io understood her children, knew how to protect and cultivate th e Im agin ation o f e a c h , knew how to make o f a house a home without constraint or complication, with no ridiculous rules or pettinesses which might stifle the spirit of a Child like

Antoine, She allowed her children to create simple pleasures for themselves, while watching over tlem. attentively, ten­ derly but firmly,^ When he recalls the Joys associated with his youth, he eaqperlencoc a renewal of strength, a reaffirmation of faith. He returns to his youth to have ils wounds dressed 2 before returning to the contest. As a slileld to present chaos, he conjures up past Joys, However, his recollections of the pact are never merely moans of cxcape. Ho himself 3 realized only too vfSll that escape leads nowhere.^ K© asked him self t&iat remains of childhood when one has become a man, exiled from its realm and astonished to find enclosed lithln its confines, "une province dont on avait fait son infini, et comprenant que dans cet infini on no rentrera Jamais plus. car c'est dons lo Jeu, et non drno le oarc, ru’ll faut ren- -4 trer.” No, It Is not a question of escape. On the con­

trary, the memories of hio youth oerve as a kind of spir­ itual sustenance in the face of danger.

' îîot only does his childhood have a special place, but the house as w ell. One finds the concept of house^ inseparably Joined with happiness, fne house, growing in significance, becomes one of the cornerstones of his life . It Is the vehicle, the ship **qui fait passer les gdndrati- ons d'une rive à l'autre de la vlo."^ Hence, the house, to him tlae foundation of civilization, is its sjonbol as \fell.

But that is not a ll. Perhaps more fundamentally, the house symbolizes something else* That something else was revealed to iiim once idien he had made an emergency land­

ing in the desert. He found himself dreaming under the spell of a strange ©motion. Then, understending end relax­ ing, he allowed himself to bo enchanted by memory. H© recalled that there was somewhere a park and an old house which he loved. Near or far, it mattered very little, "le merveilleux d'une maison n'est point qu'elle vous abrite ou vous réchauffe, ni qu'on en possède les murs. Mais bien 7 qu'elle ait lentement déposé ces provisions de douceur."

It was sufficient that they exist for them to fill the night.

The feeling of uoll-being evoked by bis reverie revealed a truths the taste of eternity vdiich had seemed to hin to come fron the desert actually had its origin In his clilld- hood, in his home. Therefore, the house symbolizes order, - 9 - durabillty, evon etei^lty. Hare then la one side of Saint Zxtipery, the chsnplon

of Individual happiness whose heart is filled with cordial­ ity toward the world and Its inhabitants. This cordiality enables hin to picture so well the vrrrr.th of the hearth, ,the pleasure of a warm bed, the nobility of the peasant andth e (Saana o f youn? g i r l s * Here i s the S a in t Sxup(5r'' p reoccu­ pied with roots, with the individual. Mono inth e a sp ect

o f M b nature which, the result of an accum. i lo t ion o f "pro­

visions do douceur," explains hie sympathy f o r "la vie pro­ t é g é e ."

On the other hand is the trend toward "la vie

d*action" wiiich is fostered by the requirements of hio occupation. He was pilot. T. ougM he ehundono * a v ia tio n

on several occasions, it lured him hack cadi time, for flying filled a place In his life as could no other activity.

How flying, though dangerous and exactinr, 1b a t th e some time exalting. The close association with speed and space endows man vdtii a sens© of exhilaration forclQi to the uninitiated. In the face of the infinite, f c "cro in mar. /.irrrlfests him self and seems to expand and fleurish.

Besides, aviation Is a precise trade. Hero, confronting deatii, the nearly correct observation or calculation is absurd. In the absolute necessity for order and detail, tho foundation of a sense of liberation—liberty W, not liberty from—he feels nearer truth. The sense of the imminence of truth, in pert a result of the Icolating quality of the - 1 0 . occupation, induces and promotes nodit^tion, Paradoxically, upon the foellnc of isolation from t::o ;.-orld rrd l.iina-.ity, la established a firm sense of unity ulthin the fraternity of men of action, which In turn Is the source of com rades in and all strong ties v/itîiin it.

üh.8 I n te r p la y o f s a in t E:?apc5ry*s n a tu ra l bo it and t)io qualities inherent in flying had a narhcl influence on his personality and led hln to his concept of uorh.

Hio heroic concept of work elicits a disdain for Insipid, monotonous, nor row, smug exlrtoece. He Is con­ temptuous of the humble meditations of the employee ^C:o mal:on himself \

Here one may recall the oarioatures vdiich Saint

2&cupéry painted of the inhabitants of tlie asteroids In the Petit Prince. Each type is revealed as erring in his own fashion; the businessmen, the geographer, the coxcomb, the drunkard, the king# ^ ^ Eadi, lost In hio own petty univorse, has failed to acquire a proper sense of values* Saint Exupéry * s vision of tho grandeur of work explains his sincere affection for the gardener \dio, through his perpetual contest with nature, attains a spark of the eternal in the results of 'his labors. His affection for the shepherd may be ©acplained as well; the shepherd is a symbol of order and stability. But perhaps even more strik­ ing is his feeling of kinship with tho peasant. Re reasons that he and the peasant are linked tlirou^ work—both use a tool and both do a job. In addition, his affinity for the peasant is a consequence of his admiration for the durabil­ ity of the peasant lineage. Ke sees in this linoac», a sort of immortality : ** 0n ne meurt ou*à demi dans une lignée 12 paysanne." And he, too, would like to root himself to -1 r— something: ;:c firm ly on the pereant ir rooted to life nndto 'h e earth *

Here, then. Is the man seeking to ercaoe a meaning­ less, boresome, commonplace existence. Here Is the man vho deplores the fact that the little bureaucrat in his dreary job has never been roused from his lethargy; the man who regrets that one is given ao little opportunity to prove himself a man, that life is so taken up with earning a living that one has no time to live and to think. Here is

Saint Exupéry, the man of action who in responsibility finds a regime by which to live.

how, obviously, the tvro trends delineated above cannot support each other. As stated in Vol de nuit; "ni l'action, ni le bonheur individuel n'admettent le partage; 13 ils sont en conflit." Furüieimiore, the reader who in only slightly familiar with the life and work of Saint ':xu- péry Imows that he olio se for himself a life of action* However, in retrospect, when haunted by nostalgia, he feels an anxiety. Han he chosen correctly? Is there some firm taiddle ground upon which to construct a moral edifice? He seeks the eternal "golden mean." His search leads him to question the worth of proccnL-day civilization; man's rela­ tio n s h ip w ith man; th e place of service, sacrifice, duty isnd lo v e In r e fe r e n c e to human d e s t in y . T h erefo re, tn e quest, v/hicli begins as a personal eecrcii for peace of mind, transcends Individual interest, he wonders: "Où lo^e la vérité de l'Homme?" "Que fau t-il dire aux hommes?" NOTES

CHAPTER II

^ All sources consulted agree on this nolnt; see specifically: Pierre Ohevrlor, Antoine -lo naint Exun^ry (Paris* Gallimard, 1939)# P* 16; Marla de Orisenoy, Antoine de Saint Exu^ry : poete et avloteur (Pnr\ r ; '''Utlonc Sper, 19W3. pp• 14-15» Antoine de Saint Exupdry, Lettres à sa m&re (Parle: Gallimard, 1955)# psesl'^. "" 2 Terre dos bonnea, p, 7 6 . 3 Pilote de guerre, p, 105# 4 Terre d es hommes, p# 199. 5 Saint Exupéry gives to f 'o French word Vairon” a meaning not unlike the Engliah word "home” Ydilch has no real counterpart in French, 6 Pilote de ruerre, p. 112, 7 Terre d®^ hommes, p, 7 8 , 8 Ihld.« pp. 12-93# ^Antoine de Saint Exupéry, Vol ^ nuit (Parla : Cal- iiia a r d , 1931)» P# ?6 . Hereafter, references to this work '.fill nimply he to Vol de nuit, ^*^Terre des hommes, p. 40, Antoine do Saint Petit Prince (Peu Zork: Reynal 4 Hitchcock, 1943)# PP# 34-5^# Hereafter, references to this nork uill slmnly be to Iæ Petit Prince. 12 Terre do? hommes, p. 221, 13 Vol de n u i t , p# 1 2 8 ,

- 1 3 - C:*iU^îi:lÙ I I I

A FOR

iîow thou^ Saint Exupéry had. c’iosen hls coro, he still remained doubtful concerning its Justness, How did he resolve his doubt? On© hesitates to use the word "revela­ tion, " though surely the connotation applies. Perusal of his works reveals that there are several "factors" or "revelations" vfrdch influenced him. One such factor is flying* In the preceding chapter, the effect that flying has upon the character and mental attitude of the indivi­ dual was discussed. Now, if it is true that the pilot feels quite differently toward the planet end its Inhabitants, it is also true tiiat ho does actually sec tho earth from a different position. As one travels across the country by train or car, one often has a vague impression tint the globe is actually quite thickly inhabited, Ho^fever, if one travels by air. Immediately he is struck by the immense distances between centers of population. He changes country and climate, crosses lands and seas of infinite variety; he is given on opportunity really to observe his planet and is often struck by the frail, delicate hold Man actually has on the earth, by how few cUid scattered are hie cities, Dans quel mince decor se Joue ce vaste Jeu des

— 1 -1 5 - hainos, dec anltiée, dos Joies humaines I D'où les hommes t i r e n t - i l s oe roû t d '^ t e m it ^ , h a s -rhnn comme ile sont sur une lave encore tiède, et déjà menacés par les sables futurs, mo^^cér par les neigesî Leurs oivilications ne sont que fragiles dorures: un volcsn les efface, une mer nouvelle, un vent de sable,'

One of the essential themes in the urltlrg of haint Sxupéry is this feelinm uhlol: remains i;lth :iim cons :antly of the fi'oglllty of kion—tho individual as noil, as his creations, n reality v/}iich, confronted irlth uryont need of duration, inspires him to direct ;.is efforts toward objects leas affected by time* As the chief in Citadelle explains, "moi. Je respecte d'abord ce qui dur© plus que O les hommes*"^ In Vol de nuit* Hlvicro Justifies his rigid, harsh code on the principle of durability and assumes the rif ht to challenge • opposing codes such as t]%at of Fabien* 0 wife, "celui d'une clarté de lampe sur la ta,le du soir, d'une chair qui réclamait sa chair, d'une patrie d'espoir, 3 de tendresses, de souvenirs*" when taint ,.naipory recalls the death of,his young brother, he realises that tender, human hapolrieeces are fragile and transitory; they cannot save man from dee.tii* u.il., action can save him by construct­ ing something w.ilch ./ill outlast itn creator. He recalls the monuments wliioh the ancient Incas arduously placed unnr the mountains* Through tlie creation of tnelr monuments, the evidence of their civilization is prolonged and with it their lives* "Le conducteur da peuoies d'autrefois, s'il n'eut peut-être pas pitié de la souffrance de 1 * lormc, eut

P itié immensément de sa mort. Non de sa mort individuelle. — 16“» main pitié de l'enp&oe qu'effacera la mer de cable. Et 11 menait son peuple dresser au moins des pierres que n'ense- velirait pas le désert." Similarly, wi^en Rivière sends his pilots out to face the dangers of the nlrht and the sWrm, by his attec^t to create something more enduring than man, he is, in reality, etrugglin; arjinst de t;., "Je le BQUve de la peur."" Pear of what? Penr of de nth, and in Uie victory over fepr, a sort of immortality Is gained.

'V Troubled by man's mortality, Saint 'oipéry seeks in action a bulwark si£;alnst deabii—a sort of immortality. At times he tries to create something which may serve the cre­ ator, but no as often seeks in discipline a protection from the oblivion of death.

His need of action, service, and discipline is essential. IIo, lime hie cVumcters, cAoosen the active,life bécaurie they are strong, phyoicnlly, and t .uo well-suited for it, and, as have indicated already, because of the power­ ful urge to en cap© from, and to rise above, the mediocrity of a sedentary existence. 'Jixiety, however, is -resent in

Saint Exupdry, but it is more quickly and easily overcome tlirough action connected \,ith work. Borides, he Is not pessim istic; he believes in Uie possibility of an order worth serving. In fact, one may cay t'r t his rather opti­ m istic outlook forestalls any tendency toward nihilism and turns him away from his early fasciuuticHo for ti e superman h e r o . Tlxat ore may find a sort of salvation in work is a - 17 - favorite theme of Saint Sxup^ry starting with Terre dea hommes. Man is in error if he see::o personal hapniness in inactivity, for in the act of creating, happiness is dis­ cover^ and weakness is overcome. At this point, he intro­ duces the idea of exchange. What makes a thing v.orthwhile is that someone has given time in exchange for it. The

more time, trouble and love required to create on o b je c t, the more something of the creator’s own perishable being is

transferred to the more enduring creation whida results in a feeling of fulfillm ent and happiness. ”Qu’y n-t-il,

savetier, qui te rend si Joyeux? Mais Je n'écoutais point la réponse, sachant qu’il se tromperait et me parlerait de l ’argent gagné, ou du repas qu’il attendait et du repos*

Ne sachant point que son bonheur était de se transfigurer en babouche d’or*"^ However, that which survives the individual and Joins generation to generation is civilization. But what

la needed to create order out of the masses making up this civilization? Civilization requires above all tl o supreme

will of a leader who is both farsighted end firm. In Citadelle. therefore, the leader is purposely designated as the king and the son of a king who la, in addition, the builder of cities and the support of the empire, Moreover, the citadel, the city, the realm, all connote duration, solidarity, order—end order from wiiich softness is abol­ ished and which resists the ’’pentes naturelles," which lead always to mediocrity and death. ”J’oppose mon arbitraire à - 18 * cet effritement dos choses et n'écoute point ceu" cul me 7 parlent de pentes naturelles."

It is this leader v/ho constructs palace, city end empire—the civilization—\^hich w ill survive the flood of tlno, for civilization is the "navire des hommes sans lequel ils manqueraient l*lternlt4." In Pilote ruerre. ho uses the image of the heap of stones which is as yet nothing, because it has neither goal nor order, but which will become a cathedral if the thou^t and action of man Intervene to give it order, form, rhythm, direction and duration,^

How, Saint Sxup^ry, obsessed with the mortality of Man, soon takes a stand on the side of manîclnd, Man, he feels, can surmount death by creating vrarts or institutions which w ill survive him and In so doing, is able, himself, to partaho of the more durable. Therefore, according to Saint Exupdry, Man is rn agent (active), not an observer (passive). "Que oulo-Je si Je ne participe pas? J'al besoin, pour être, de partlci- 10 p e r ." I t I d not In detaching himself from the world, that one Is able to know and to understand it, nor Is it in pure thought that one should seek to nerfect himself. The way to genuine understanding and fulfllh:ent is to cling to life and to live it to tb.e fullest. One must do a Job, have Gone real and oolld contact with the world in order to understand it. "Le travail t'obll-e d'êpousor le monde. Terre dos hommes, he develops t ie tieme of the vrlue of the tool as mi instrument of knowledge; whether it be a -19- plow or an airplane î

Semblable au paysan qui fait sa tournée dans son domaine et qui prévoit, à mille sirnca, la narclie du printemps, la menace du roi, l'annonce de la pluie, le pilote de métier, lui aucsi, déchiffre dec sirnoc de nei^e, des sicnes de brume, des signes de nuit bien-heureuse. La machine, oui semblait d'abord l'en écarter, le soumet avec plus de rigueur-aux grands problèmes naturels. By plane, an earthy sort of trutli is found. In doing the woi^ of a man, one leazvis the cares of Man, One is in contact >/ith the elomemts—ulth life . Tlierefore, it is in participation, sharing, not merely observing, that

Man discovers his meaning. roTxs

ClIAPïiR III

^Terre flea horanos. pp. 67-68. 2 Antoine de Saint £:

-PO- CHAPTER IV

THE ESSENCE OP M/Jî

Hnderetandably, Saint Sxupér;; rlvmys dlollked being an observer, for he valued only the act that proves itself

to be creative and which depends upon particination. Upon this proposition, he builds his idea of the essence of man­ kind, Participation had revealed to him the existence of ties which linked him to humanity. Therefore, relation­ ships assume paramount importaroe; they save him from becoming so absorbed in meditation that ho can see nothing

beyond him self. Moreover, by conscientiously recognising tlie existence of ties and affinities, the individual, he

feels, can escape his solitude. In working -rith Iilo com­ panions, he feels a unity in wortc, ”La grandeur d'un

mdtler est, peut-être, avant tout, d'unir les hommesî ils n'ont qu'un luxe véritable, et c'eot celui des relations humaines *" Often just a slight threat or some real danger v/ill recall the actual existence of a community of Man; a night

in tlie desert amidst untamed, unfriendly tribes may be enough to reveal the presence of Man, Then, man encounters nanlclnd. "On chemine longtemps cote r. cote, enfermé dans son nropre silence, ou bien l'on écha.irc dos mots qui ne

- 2 1- -22- trsnsportent rien* îîalc voici l^houro du donner* Alors on n*i^naulo l*un &. l'autre* On découvre que l'on appartient r.

^ ' "2 la même communauté,"

IsSiat Saint Exupéry calls love is, in its highest r o m , coraraxleE}'.!!)— ccn rcù cfi'iip , th e t i c -/-ic h b in d s men and produces rewards which do not deceive, T!\rouch conrrdoshln, those who live trapped in their partie: 1 er socird sphere, abandoning the destiny of the race to clr nco, arc dinn.n from their isolation* Released, they re-ortablish tliom- selvcD above mere livinr beings, T!iey continue the spir­ itual growth necessary for a progressive culture. It Ic not the comradeship of egoists contemplating each other, but minds striving, toward the cane goal* "Liés r. nos frères par un but commun et qui se situe hors de nous, alors eovîlenent noua rospirono, et l'expérience nous montre qu'aimer, ce n'est point nous regarder l'un l'autre, mais 3 regarder ensemble dans la r.Srr.c direction,"

In the desert, perhaps, one fools r.nd understonds the need of cormunion more than onywiiere oloe.^ Tlie desert is a groat source of inspiration and revelation. It is an ej^resfllon of tîie unknown and often the unimowable. Hei^e is a real sensation of ejqcanse, of the individual reduced to the basic, of vast, cloudless series, of an Imnensity wîiich loses all reality save for the existence of "présences" will oh animate him. These "présences" are dear to Saint jExupéry* Oliey are the ercprecoion of spiritual ties v/'/ilch bring life to inert expanses ; which evoke a desire for a - 2 > renewal of contacts,

’üîhat ra^es hlra realize the need of cooperation? By chance y he has an opportunity for contemplation; he awalcens to the realisation that *’l*honne n'er t ou'un noeud de rela- ? tions, that "11 est pétri de liens," r^vorythlnf', is ran— port» The essence of reality is placed In the conscience Whldi meditates and which Interprets or creates these rap­ ports, "Quand un hasard éveille l'amour, tout s'ordonne dans l'homme selon cet amour* et l'amour lui apporte le sentiment de l'étendue," "Etendue" Is what has rapport with him, whnt Interests hlm, whnt he desires, -;hnt he loves. If one Is without emotions, the warmest room, tlie most fascinating city or the most brilliant cctherlng- Is empty and meaningless. On tlie contrary, if he possonaos emotions, even in absolute solitude, by thin]zing of the source of his life , by remembering his hone, his family, tlien, through the myriad mysteries crowding the silence, "d'lnvisiblen divinités bâtissent un réseau de directions, de pentes et de signes, une musculature secrète et vlvrnto, Il n'eat plus d'uniformité, tout s'oriente, , . . Tout se polarise. Chaque étoile fixe une direction véritable,

Elles sont toutes étoiles de nages," Thus space is peopled and becomes "étendue," The wealth and beauty of "étendue" are proportional to the ties one hac node with the world and its inhabitants. "L'étendue ne se trouve pas,

:iillc se f o n d e ,Besides, vÆiat creates and preserves ties isnd reiationslilps must be affection. Affection is what brink's about tho recalling and vjîiat fills trio solitude; it reveals tho secrot quality of a countryside or nn Indivi­ dual, It jaalres the Individual aware of h ie own e x is te n c e and the existence of others ; It ^Ivos direction rnd force to his rets md to his life , Tills the’'ie Is used by the author

Ih Pilote ^ werre and In Lettre à otare. /n encounter with a young peasant girl at the front during the Spanish Civil,War, lunch with a friend in a special atmosphère, the exohanj-e of a smile with a Spanish rebel, awaltons him to the glow of human cord3.allty; ho discovers himself to be • nem­ ber of the brotherhood of Man.

His foeling of human cordiality is perhaps ti'.e source of the charm of the girls created by Saint Sxupory.

It may also be the source of the nostalgia for ’\ls c’lild- hood, for childhood is the charming, ingenuous origin of each of us; It Is tJi© paradise of fresh mornings, endearing animals and wondrous flowers. ”Voicl mon secret, . . II est tree simple * on ne volt bien qu'avec le coeur. L'es­ sentiel est invisible pour les yeux*”^^ In th e works o f S a in t Exun

i^at does it natter under which party one serves in a c i v i l tmr, if that party nahos of him a hero? *'Jo -o no que bien de connaître s’ils étaient sincères ou non,loriquos ou non, les grands nota des politiciens qui t'ont or.noncncé. S'ils ont pris sur toi, co^me peuvent rem or den semences, c'est qu'ils répondaient à tes besoins. Tu ©s seul juge.*'

Each finds his own law. That Is, logically, Saint Exupory is led toward a relative and individual morality which has its share of truth and considerably more thon its share of

charm—a liberty which can create heroes. Indeed, it is a most tempting principle; however, there is another question perhaps more urgent than indivi­ duality. The individual is part of society and must be governed by it. Government can be exercised only by rules, laws and precepts \diich benefit the entire group. Calnt

Exupéry is especially aware of this fact and. In Citadelle, strives to crystallise and present his iîeac. Already there are indications in Terre de§, hommes and Pilote ^ ^piorre, of a trend away from relativism , for ,uo rc-rlizes that it may lead to anarchy. The trend is not always logical and is often contradictory; there are t\ro divergent ^philosophies which he follows side by aide. The one is his reverence for life which is to him a supremely magnificent -26- force of obscure and Indeed miraculous or ig in .It la wonderful to contemplate, and merits the admiration and respect of Man. When he speaks of life, he insists that

ceu x %ul 1 ont goûté une fois n*oublient pas cette nour­ riture- . . . 11 ne D*agit pas de vivre dangereusement. Cette formule est prétentieuse. Les toréadors ne me nlai- aent guère. Ce n’est pas le danger que J'aime. Je snis ce que J'aime. C'est la vle.**^^

The other philosophy Is a rather poorly defined spiritual concept. Everywhere In his works there Is the belief that something greater exists, that there is a Spirit above life and that it la what is essential. This Spirit is different from life. Life is the impulse which does not know idiere it is going, the source of character and conduct, every act and desire; it is an energy which grows and expands. The Spirit is direction and choice,

Imowledge of the universal, the rules of honor and wisdom.

However, it is not Intelligence. He establishes a clear distinction between intelligence and Spirit. Spirit is not only different from intelligence; it is higher. Intelli­ gence is the faculty of analysis which distinguishes objects; Spirit grasp® their relationships. Intelligence seeks the immediate goal; it is calculating and acts throu^ self interest, while Spirit sees beyond the requirements of the moment and understands what constitutes eternal values. Spirit la moved by lore and sacrifices

•*La fleur qui se fane lâche sa graine, la graine qui pour- - 2 7 - fonde sa tige* et de toute chrysalide oui se brioo sor­ t e n t d es Biles."15

It le soon apparent that Galrt T.:v-'-ér-y* s strongest Inclination is towam the Gplrlt. In Vol 'o nnl t * ne su. :geBtG the question: "îTous agi s son s toujours," sm s ïliviere, "comme si quelque c’:oso en noue dcnassalt en valeur la vie humaine. , . . liais quol?"^^ The ansuor la given In Terre des hommea ,in the closing liner : "Garni 1T l ' E s p r i t , 0*11 souffle sur la glaise, peut créer l'Horme,"

Ris belief in the , foregoing dictum ie sl.o^n: f ’rou'hout

Pilote de guerre. Finally, in Citadelle, ho asserts that the highest achievements, a harmonious life and on orderly society, are through respect for a transcendent spiritual reality. This spiritual reality la eventually ('eslcpirted ao God: "Ta pyramide n'a point de sers si elle ne s'a- 18 chêve en Dieu." ÎJierefor©, Man is spiritual. With tri© conviction confirmed, Saint ihcupéry heslte.tes no longer? ho decldoc that the acquioition of ,h-nowled; ,o is no longer limited to participation nor is it any longer limited to the individual. Meditation regains its worth, for the abso­ lute is more easily attained by quiet contemplation than by a c t io n . Dane le Dominicain qui p r i e , i l e s t une- orésence dense. Cet homme n'ont jamais plus .lomu.c que quand le voilà prosterné et immobile. Dams Pasteur oui retien t son sow. g fie au—i.orsus do nom. microscope, il est une mrésenco dense. Ponte-r n 'o o tJamais plus homme que- quand il observe. Alors 11 ■^rogrenno. Aloi s il se l.a tc , Alors^ ' 1 ,":,vr.ncG à pas de gon't, bien nu 'immobile, et i.L découvre l'étendue. I-insi Césanne, iimol i e e t —28— Eiuet, en face de son ébauche est d*un© arocence Ineetlnablo - Il n*est j anale plu n home que lors­ qu'il ae tait, éprouve et Jupe. Aima sa toile lui devient plus vaste que la ner,”' Through contemplation, Imoulodre end creation, he goes beyond the life of action, abandons relativity In favor of order- He heads toward the absolute—Snirlt. NOTES

CHAPTER IV

âog hommee. p. 40.

L&&, p i 4 3 .

p . 2 0 2 . 4 Kttguet, S£. pp. 19-2 3. K Pilote a© m e r r e . p. 9 9.

^Ibid.. , p . 1 8 4.

^IMd.. p. 104. 8 Antoine d© S«dnt Exup^ry^ Lettre à un otapce (New York * Br©ntano*o, 1942), p. 2 8 . "" 9 Pilote de ruerre. p. 105. ^^Le P e t i t P r in c e , p . 7 2 , 11 Terre des hommes. p. 190.

p . 2 0 2 .

^^Citadelle, p. 191. 14 Terre des hommes, pp. 179-80.

^^ C it a d e lle , p . 4 5 .

^^Vol de nuit, p . 1 3 0 . 17 Terre des hommes, p . 218.

Citadelle, p. 2 3 2 .

de puerre. p. 1 0 5.

-29- Gî-iAPT'ÏH V

A CODE FOR ::Aïï

Saint having found a neaning for the indi- vldttaXÿ acRight then to estahXish the andietjpes of nan «nd

aooiety* His work at this point becomes an affirmation of h i s f a i t h i n Kan* ® iat© ver l i f e may r eq u ire o f him* he

never stops fighting "pour une civilisation qui n choisi l*Hoiam® pour elef do voûte";^ he opposes "quiconque pré­

tendra asservir a un individu, corme à une masse d'indivi- 2 dus, la liberté de l ’Homme*" How, Instoad of a penchant

for placing tho essential In the individual, he strersoc the idea of Kan#., the pure species »hich gives to the indi­

vidual his value* "Ma civilisation," he writes in Pilote de guerre, "repose sur le culte de 1*Homme* * . • Ma

civilisation a cherché à fonder les relations humaines sur

le culte de l'Homme au delà de l'Individu*"^ He neither praises nor blames the Individual, for "1*individu n'est Jt' qu'une route * h*Homme qui l'emprunt© compte seul." In

Vol de nuit* this cult of Mankind is confused vdth that of

the hero who diedains the crowd; "Leo petits bourgeois des petites villes tournent le soir autour de leur kiosque à musique# et Rivière pensait; 'Juste ou injuste envers eux, 5 cela n'a pas de sens: ils n'existent pas.'" They oxlct

- 3 0 - - 3 1 - after the leader haa formed tie-i, flven them ooule and w ills, succeeded In forcing them out of themselves.^ Sslnt Exupdry's first heroes are stem , relentless men who are at s ll times ready to sacrifice men for tho osZ:e of what Human­ ity should he. Though gentler and wiser, his heroes never completely subjugate their sternness. îhe builder of the citadel still repeats that man is nothing In himself alone, but that his value lies in vihat passes tlirough him. He Is a vehicle, a depository made worthy because of the trust be has received. Consequently, It la not the individual to

WÎ10I3 justice is due, but rather that vrlilcli he carries with­ in him. ”Etr© juste. . . me dit mon père, il faut choisir.

Juste pour l'archange ou juste pour l'homme? Juste pour la plaie ou pour la chair saine? Pourquoi prendrai-je le parti de ce qui est contre ce qui demeure en puissance? La

Justice, selon mol, me dit mon père, est d'honorer le dèpo- G sltalre à cause du d^ ôt.” What, then, does Saint Exupéry require In Man? He suggests as models, men like his friend Oulllauraet, vho express the finest characteristic of Hen—humanness. He enlightens us with the episode concerning Gulllaumet who, forced down in the Andes, discovers that there Is some thing surpassing self; that It is not a question of courage v/hlch

Is merely the result of the events In which the Individus! 5.S Involved, but rather of responsibility. Uprlrhtness Is the key* "Etre homme, c'est précisément être responsable."^

Oulllauraet, when he saya, "Ce que j'al fait, je te le jure, - 3 2 -

Jüraaifî auoune b a te rxo 1 * aurait, fr it, " exprornoc tJi© trait which sets Man above the ani-.alc, -mch -nheo hin a human belU 0 « It is the instinct of the Individual facinr destiny} It Is the use of intelligence- to assure a victory of the Mind over the body and over the elements. Moreover, it is the result of recognizlnr; t'xat nan is not in tCno uorld alone, but that he has his duty to others. So, nhon Saint

Exup<$ry croches in the Lybian Desert, he realizes that if he were truly alone, he would abandon lia fiyht for life in favor of blissful death. However, he is not alone end because of the pity, ho feels for those do’-'oadinc upon him, he represses his desire for death? he feels his responsibil­ ity* ’^Cïiaque seconde de silence assassine un pou cour, que j'aime* . * , Patience t..* Kous arrivons!.., Nous arrl- 11 vons * ,.. " Torn betvpsen méditation and action, ho believes he ha® found the answer. Look for quality which can be found only in genuine action and real people. Quality is the real essence of the human being, He wishes and hopes that men may live in active fulfillm ent of their respons­ ib ility j that they may achieve a world In u'dch nan lives for Men and not for a single special group, Howver, in the last pages of Terre des hommes, he warns against regarding, Man as the supreme goal, Vhat is 12 really worWiy of n.dmiratlOTi is what has foinaed the nan. He proposes hi® archetype of man as a possible goal for our ambition, as a possible ideal, an ejcannlo of the progress latent in the present contradictory society. - 3 >

î’*iii*t

alm ost a l l th e oond* tio n a w' 1 ch f o s t e r human g r e a tn e se . He Indicates that these conditions appear to imoly a disci- a scale of values, of which we have only a confused idea* However, it is imperative for us to seek to kno’.- and to understand them.

The supremely human quality is latent in everyone everywhere* Threatened by war, sickness, disaster, any

extraordinary incident, one becomes as though outside him­ self; one seems to seek the real essence—the essential of his being which is always existent though often unknown.

Lack of opportunity alone permits this essential to go on sleeping, "Faute d’occasions nouvelles, faute de terrain

favorable, faute de religion exigeante, ils se sont ren­

dormis sans avoir cru en leur propre grandeur,"^^

îhis lack of opportunity is blamed on slavish sub­

mission to society. Man is inspired with a desire for freedom from stagnation; he must be delivered. However, his freedom constitutes a real equality which is opposed to political equality; political equality is a snare. Follow­ ing the thought, one discovers a fine evolution of civili­ zation. Civilization’s purpose is not to make the world more practical, more habitable or more comfortable, but to give to the human part of the individual the attention it deserves; invention and techniques must be subordinated to

the individual. The essential is not found in any perticuler event • 3 ^ Oï* condlt.lon twt yather lîi any event wîilch ■ nan a '/-y i^ouBlng^ jlIhiogXI* and. fin d in g Tiis ovm conrcloiiBnnro and k l 6 own m issio n *

3o he outlines a sort of humanism vd.th hlf^h stan­ dards* He reveres and nurtures the hlrhnr.t in man and dlsoounts Individual happiness and rights vhen either the interests of humanity or society and orderly clvlllzatlcr. aro at stake. Only in that way can there he a truly 'rjr*- monioUR life, "Los droits de he writes in

Citadelle, "où commencenL-llsî Car Jr cor mis les droits du temple qui est sens des pierres, et les droits de l'em­ pire qui est sens des hommes, et les droits du po&me qui est sens^de mots. Mais jo ne reoonnale point le- droits des pierres eontr© le temple, ni les droits des mots contre 14 le poème, ni les droits de l'honne contre l'empire," One may wonder if he is not contradictir.y ’ils humanism and supporting precepts will oh he opposes at other times. Here again the dual tendency of Saint Exupery's nature saves him# Admittedly, his temperament pushes him tovrrd a moral code of aristocratic quo.lity and order. Adulttcdly, t’.ls code would seem to endanger the future of the less fortu­ nate members of society. But his generosity, bene vole -ice and pity toward manlcind are permanently parts of Ms nature.

From Vol Ce m ilt to Terre des hommes, one socs hlm pass from heroism to a humanism in which service, brotherhood, progress and group happiness guide the red ly superior man

"to a balance between authority and love. Of course, the -55- v^t'.veï'inf “betiV.'een 't:'voo© o p p o site s o?.'i never be entirely e lim in a ted * However, S a in t ZxL\pery door not te:'d toward iïideolsloii nor toward eyncbronirn, but rather he creates a synthoBin. Between complete equality and strict aristo­ cracy, he undorstandn and honors hrn as tho essence in the individual; thus he does not exclude tho most hrnble fi'or. his order. He earnestly desires that tir^,-, too, si: uld find the essence of Man vdthin thenselvos, ^'a civilisation repose our le culte de I'homne à travers les individus."^ He includes a ll not juct morne. In the oxîDtercc of the clild of c Polish cmlrnrnt family, he sees a sort of divine beauty in potentials \;hich may well be spoiled and burled In wrc tchedne is, Tie child

Is the symbol of all potentials in all men—potentials v/hich are never realised, that torments him is not the misery of tho individual, for after oil, one mr.;- settle down, into misery a© easily as into slothfulnesr, ”Ce qui no tourmente, ce ne sont ni ces creux, ni ces boesro, ni cette laideur. C'est un peu, dans chacun de ces hommes, 16 îîoaart ansasslnd,** He would prevent the “Mozart assassiné.“ Therefore, in place of an indlvldualisn governed by instincts and appetites, he subetltutes a personalism founded on Spirit snd love; he strives for a hierarchy formed by stares of spiritual progress. Thin hiercrc’iy is onvislonsc veyond m aterialistic democracy idth its tendency to place everyone on the same level. Thourh the nsmo basic trends, tlir sa^c contrary forces, the same secret hesitations aro evident throughout the worlts of Saint Sxup(?ry, one can note an evolution in hlB thought. Thus from an almost Kietsschlan philosophy of the superman found in Vol de nuit, he panses to the com­ p a ssio n o f Terre d es hommes and then to what may be c a lle d a sort of transcendency In Pilote de guerre. Lettre & un otage and Le Petit Prince. Finally, In Citadelle, he assembles a more disciplined and positive presentation of his code. He strives always for order; he wants it around himself, for then It Is civilisation; and within himself, for then It Is serenity and peace. It has been shown that civilization for Saint

Exup^ry is first of all a creation of mon in which he pro­ longs or projects his transitory mortal self beyond death. However, In addition, it Is a coherent edifice within whloh he finds the conditions of his material and spiritual life and thus the secret of happiness. No doubt civilization has economic conditions; the services of th.e Icltchen are 17 vital, for without food, there would be no men. However, tliat is not the most important condition; t’-e roal of clviliaatlan is spiritual. The leader affirms that happi­ ness among tho people could not exist in provisions alone; the importa.it condition is that of ti'.e services whic’i assure the quality of Man. It is not material loirer nor ric’ios will eh bind the community together, Tlicy destroy it. 1 o Rather, it is a common goal or faith, ' "Forcc-lec à bâtir •37* un© tour, et tu le© changera© en frerec. ’"r.ls si tu veux j qu’il» s© haïssent» jette-leur du f?rain.'* ' He nr.kes an apology for civilization and, In hlo search for quality, is convinced of its glorious future* As a defender of civili­

zation, Saint Exupéry seizes upon.two aore or less human­

istic ideas in Citadelle « %e first idea is the importance of structures of all kinds, Man is not the noblo savagej that is a myth; truth is on the aide of civilization. To he moral and to be happy as well, Man needs laws. Mso, it is not nature, but mainly tho institution whloh is the

oririn of Han, Je n'dtais point assez^nai'f pour croire quo la fin do I ’empiro était dun ? cette f-t iiit'^ do ir. vertu, sachant avec trop de clarté que cotte faj^llite de la vertu était duc à la fin "'e l'c^pire,^^

La pourriture de mes ho^mnor. est avant tout pourri­ ture do l ’o'uuir© rui fonde l^'o hommcr, ' If one allows -^or an cxcerr of corviction in tho forcroinr

idea, it regains a fact that without Icm a n d in-'titutlona,

Mon does not propres». The rocond idea is that civilization Ir rot only

external constraints, it Is rites and accepted order; not just codes, but cero:'onioD and therefore t':c scarce of hoopinoes, security and aorerlty. cwic le c'cf, It

j'écris les lois, je fou-'e 1 ^'S fctce, j’oriorne les

sacrificer, et, de leurs me-to^ s, de Icur^ chcvrc-, de

leurs demeures, de leurs montayrcs, je tire cette civili­

sation, semblable au palais de mon père, où tous les pas -38- ont un zene." So civilization oror.lJ be ru ch thrt c-ach step has a slcnlflcance; a. social state Liiere one feels at e a se ; where one c lv e n h is co n sen t; •/'■ere ore can ^ ive h is fullest, Thus rich, poor, wlcc, pc'/crful, I'acler and

•worker are •vindicated In a society - iiloh has both poal and

Blcniflcanoe, So the creator of social order is not a d ic t a t o r \Aio maJces individuals allh.e and heops them topetîier by dint of force, but the lawgiver who fixes them t’lrougji faith, ' Like the builder of the citadel, he gives to each stone its meaning in the structure, ”La contrainte valable est exclusivement colle qui te soumet au temple selon ta signification, • . « Ha contrainte est cérémonial de

_ I H 24 l'a m o u r. ÎÎOTIJS

GHAP?1'"Î V

^Pilote de fmerre. p. 240* "Iblcl. . p . 242,

p , 2 1 9 -2 2 . 4 I b l d p* 214.

"Vol de nuit, p, 40. '"Ibld. . 49. ^ Citadelle. p, 439, P. Ibid., p, 47. r, " l’oiTe de .0 lionne o. p, 5 5 , 10 I b id . . p . 9 3 .

^^Ibld.. p. 155. ^^IblcU. p. 191.

14 Citadelle, p. 230. 1 5 Pilote de ;2uerro. p. 219.

Terre dea hommoR. pp. 217-18. 17 Citadelle, p. 8 2 . 18 Note a strong ressenblonco to the ’’Unanlnlsiae*' of Jules Romaine In hi? Idee of rnbordinrtion of thr inrlivi- dual to the group.

^^Citadelle, p. 51. 20 I b id , , p. 67.

- 7 n - -4 0 - PI Citadelle. t>. 7 5 ,

ï d- « # p» 3P*

I b i d ., P . 2 3 3 .

’ rpld.. pp. 24€-49. CHAPTER VI

THE MESSAGE

Briefly, then, let us eustmarize the Saint Exnperlan ideas oovered in this study. First of nil, the essence of oivlllsatlon is spiritual, though economic and political in structureÎ it is a hierarchy of values, a sharing of faith; it is an act of the Spirit. Then, there is the idea of the knot; reality is not to bo found in things but in the Imot that binds thon together. The nation is not the sum of individuals nailing up a crowd, but rather the ties of love and faith by which they ore united. The on;-ire is not goods, laws, arms and citizens, but rather the idea around lAiloh these things are united so that order in created. There­ fore, it is actually the Spirit which animates and Justi­ fies the existence of institutions. It would bo absurd for

Man to live end die for things worth less thon himself; but it Is quite appropriate for him to do so for the divine tie that binds, Mon territoire est bien outre oliose que ces moutons, ces ciievres, ces demeures et ces montagnes, mais ce qui les domine et les noue.

Car Tu e s . S e ig n e u r , l a commune mesure de l'u n e t de l'autre. Tu es le noeud essentiel d'actes d i v e r s ,2

-4 l- —42— One does not die for the things that up a civilization; one dice to gave ”1'Invisible noeud qui les noue et les change en domaine, en empire, • • • La mort "2 pale à cause do l*araour.”

Saint Eücup^ry accuses society of tending toward a deceptive equality among men. Men %hoEe tics anc conntmlon have been broken by this equality ere left floating in a sort of vacuum of Irresponsibility, Tl'.o keystone of Saint .S».ip^rlan civilization is Man, Kan, like the stones of the cathedral, gives signlflcanco and life to materials. Men transcends the crowd to reach the essential nart of his being—quality. Realising his own sirr.ificanoe, he rauct free himself from the mass and take part In creating Man. Man must be responsible, active, living; he m ot know and accept his role, "car ce qui donne un sens a la vie donne un sens à la mort."^ Upon this premise, thon. Saint Exup^ry founds his concept of liberty based on hlerardhy, order, ritual and

Spirit, Tiae supreme act of liberty would be to accept constraints, not to submit to, or tolerate then, but to consent to, and approve then as rules; through this accept­ ance, one escapes the anzciety over man's fragility and his oolitud©; he finds happiness and peace In meaningful action subordinated to a plan, Appellcs-tu liberté le droit d'errer dans le vide? En m&!@ temps qu'est fondée la contrainte d’une voie, c'est sa liberté qui s'augmente. , , • at l'enfant triste s'il volt Jouer les autres, ce qu'il réclame d'abord, c'est qu'on lui impose les réglés -43“ c du Jeu qui seules le feront devenir. Liberty in its highest form is consent to order. In fact, the worst fate, according to Gaint "xup^ry, is for Man to he lost "dans un© semaine sans Jours, dans une armée sans fetes ; for Man to be without hierarchy, ajid to destroy his ovm restraints in order to feel I^er. "Car il a’est apparu que l'homme était sonblable à la citadelle. Il renverse les murs pour s'assurer la liberté, nais il n'est plus que for­ t e r e s s e dém antelée e t o u v erte eux é t o i l e s . A lors commence l'angoisse qui est de n'être point. . . . Citadelle, Je te 7 construirai dans le coeur do 1'homme." Now, the truly essential point in our autlor's ideas is reached: a citadel in the heart of Man. The order of civilisation is not Just external; it tahos root in the conscience; It flourishes in an internal peace. Ho doubt peace Is harmony; tho placing of each thing in its place in accord \flth the rules. There la another aspect to this point: "Ha contrainte est cérémonial de l'amour."^ Cer­ tainly, there can be no peace without order; also there can be no life vjithout affection, Thir is the great there thish runs through the works of Saint Exupéry. Affection and fervor which find their goal, which choose their cult and which prefer loyalty, duty and order to an illusion of liberty. They are to be respected as creative. Je sauve celle-là seule qui peut devenir,^ct s'or* donner autour de la cour intérieure, de même eue le c4dre s'édifie autour de sa graine et trouve, dans ses propres lim ites, son épanouissement. Je sauve celle-là . . . nui n'aime point d'abord l'amour nais •'I tel visage particulier qu'a pris I'rroir.'

The goal of the hunrrdot is to onlirhten and per­ petuate the primacy of Han over the Individual; he fails by neglecting the essential acts—sacrifice and charing. Ilow 10 religions which ore opposed to them stand for collectiv­ ity, the good of til© particular group, and ^brgot to rospoct Man* A new humanism mist restore Man through nets; Man must become again the common denominator of peoples and races• îhen, the qualities which are responsible for the grandeur of Man—qualities threatened by Lb© noi: religions—must be protected, strengthened and r.groad, if wo aro to continue the progress of civilisation*

"Oli logo la vdrit<5 de l ' homme?" "Quo fan I-11 lire auz homines?" Saint Mcap<5r.y*s nnrwers aro ; ham's trut' is found in constraints, order and acceptance. ‘Ihrouyh hlo acte, Man m et find a spiritual el niflcrnce in hlo o'ci being, for only in bo doing can he regain r. regroct for îten* Tlien Maa, conscious of hi a rôle, can achieve hap;i- ness and peace* Saint Exur^r^r'a concept of wisdom, happiness and affection Implies something surpassing everyday values and perha %38 even tho personal God to wb.on appeal must bo mado *

1:1s God gives freely of himself to the wise who are willing to discipline themselves and submit to order*

His is the ultimate in humanistic thought which assumes fully the values of civilization, orrargirg then around the Spirit. It is exceptionally well balanced. -45— arlDtocratic ulthout dlsclaln or c::cobg pr.ilant'rortie without illuoion or sentinentality; indivi-iuallDtic vrithout anarchy; poetic, oven nyctical, yet roallotlo r.rJ. nooitlve. It is above a ll, ; oneroue and proyrooslvc.

Saint Exupory's role, one may say, ir, that of a second Promotheue who, for the salvation of hen, aouyht to replenish the flame stolen from the yodn. FOT‘,:S

CHAPTER V

^Citadelle, p. n?.

^ibia,. p. 5 3 1 .

3 ' ' ' Ibid.. p. 65. 4 Torro do^ honmes. p, 210,

^Citadelle, p. 223.

^ Ib lR .. p, 2 8 . 7 Ibid.. p. 25. ^Xbitl.. p. 2 4 9 .

^I M d .fc p . 2 4 , Tae rellclono referred to by Saint Szupdry are aotually tlieorlee of ggovemaent such as Nazism, Fascism and Goranunlsn.

^46» BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. PRIMARY SOURCES

1. m m Saint Exup^ry, Antoine do. CametB. Forty-fifth edition. Parinî Oalllnard, 1953.

_ .» OitgdoXXo« Two hundred forty-firct edition. Paris: Gallimard, 1948,

...... « Courrier Su4« ore hundred ninoty-nevonth edition. Paris: Gallimard, 1920.

Lettré,a & sa mère. Thirty-third edition. Paris: ISrïlmSrdTW ëS. « Lettre à otare. New York: Rrontano'n, 1942, , Lettros de jeunesse. Fifty-ninth edition, Paris: "Gallimard, 1953. » Le Petit Prinoe. New York : Reynal & Hitchcock, 1 ^ 3 . . Pilote de CTierre. Two hundred twenty-seventh eSltion* Paris’ : Gallimard, 1942. • Terre dea hoüKitea. Eiyhty-second edition, Paris: Gallimard, 1 ^ . * ^ aeiis à la vie. Paris : C-alllnnrd, 1956, . Vol de nuit. One httndned ninety-fifth edition. Taris: GalTïmard, 1931.

2 . PERIODICALS Saint Exup^ry, Antoine do. **Lotter to Younc An-rloans,” Scholastic. The American Hlrh School Weekly (Combined Edition), M a^5, 1942, pp. 17-18. . ”An Open Letter to Frenclunen Rvcryv^'iere, ” The York T l^s Karasine. November 29» 1942, pp. 8, 35«

—47 — —48—

,• ”A F le a fo r P ea ce," The ITe:; York T ines Hap~.agine. A p ril 22, 1 9 4 5, p . 7 .

— "Reflexions on v/ar," Llvin/r Ar.e. November, 1938, p p . 2 2 5 - 2 8 .

B. SECONDARY SOURCES

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Anet, Daniel, Antoine d© Saint Sjro.n^ryî nocte, ronancier. m oraliste. Paris: Sorrea,"~l9%^'. " ------

Chevr1er, Pierre, Antoine do Saint Rxnncrv. Fifth edition, Paris: Gallimard, l 9 4 9.

Crisenoy, Marla de. Antoine do Saint Eroj-idrv: no&to ot aviateur. Paris : Bdltlons Spec, 19%. Delahge, R©n«5. La vio do Saint . Paris: Editions du Seuil, 19^. Eatang, Luc. Saint Sxupfev nor lut-reno. Ecrivains d© . toujours; Paris:'"Éditions du Seul1, 1956.

Fowlle. Wallace, "Maaque du héros littéraire, IV. Le poet© de l ’action: Saint Rxupory,” Les OEuvres NouvoXlee, - New York: Editions do la Maison Fronçalao, lîuguet, Jean, Saint Exunérv où l ’Enseimènent du déecrt. Paris: La ColcSe%'''5altlons du vieux Colombier7 .

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Maurois, André. "Antoine de Saint Sxupéry," Etudes Lit­ téraires . II, New York : Editions de la Maison Pron- ç a is o , 1 9 4 4. Péliflsler, Georges. Les olno visares de Saint Exupéry, Paris: Flammarion, 1951. Worth, Léon, Toi que je l ’ai connu. Paris: Editions du S e u il, 194“ ~

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Borjon, Louis, S. J, "Un homme conouiert sa variété," Etudes, February, 1 9 4 5, pp. 145-66. —49 — Benet, •./llllan Rose. "Flight of the Spirit,” Saturdc.y Review of Literature.- February 28, 19'' 2, p. 6.

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Cooper, F , T , **Review o f Vol de n u it ," Commonweal. l'ovember 30, 1932, p. 135. Créraieux, Benjanin, "Review of Vol de nuit. " La nouvelle Revue F r a n ç a ise . O ctober, 195V» p p .6 o # - 1 3 . Dawson, Margaret Cheney, "Review of Vol de nuit. " iTew york Herald Bocks. August 7, 1932, p. 3* Edmon, ESpwln. "A Frenchman Beyond Defeat or Despair," New York Herald Books. February 22, 1942, p. 1. FIduo. "Silhouettes contemporaines. Monsieur Antoine de Saint Exupdry," La Revue des deux mondes. June 15, 1939, pp,.854-58* Calantiero, Lewis. "Saint Sxupéry," TIio /.tlr.. tic Monthly, A p r il, 1 9 4 7 , pp. 133-41. Garnett, David, "Revio;; of Terre des holmes," New States­ man and Nation. September 23, V939, p. 431, Gould, hruce, "Pioneers of the Airlines," Saturday Review of Literature. June 17, 1939, p. 5* H ill, Franlc Ernest, "Review of Courrier Sud. " Saturday Review of Literature. October 1, 1933, p. 4, J a lo u x , Edmond, "Review o f Vol ^ n u i.t. " Iiouye].l_eo. U A - téraircs. November 7, 1931, P* 5* Kronenburg, Louis. "Review of Vol do nuit," Now York Tim.ee Book Review, August 14, 1931» P* 7* , "Review of Courrier Sud. " New York Tino.s Book Review, October 8 , 1933, P* 8 * Lévy, Yves. "Antoine de Saint N:aipéry," Paru, Mcust- Septombor, pp. 11-16, Lindl^r^, Ame Morrow. "Adventurous Nritinr.. Saturday' Eeviey of Literature. October 14, 1939, P* ^* - 5 0 . MaoPoe, Helen, ”Rovle’.; of Vol c:e n u it,” TJie Yale Revlev. Autumn, 1952, p. v lii. ------

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