In The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the drunkard symbolizes the cycle of addiction and the inability to break free from self-destructive behaviors. The drunkard drinks to forget his shame, but his shame is that he drinks. This creates a vicious cycle that he cannot escape.
The drunkard’s situation is a metaphor for how people often get trapped in repetitive, harmful patterns. They may recognize the problem but feel powerless to change it. This character highlights the theme of human vulnerability and the struggle to find meaning and redemption.
Through the drunkard, Saint-Exupéry critiques the way people sometimes cope with their problems by avoiding them, rather than confronting and resolving them. The drunkard’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of escapism and the importance of self-awareness and personal responsibility.