The Disappearance of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: War, Love, and Legacy in the Mediterranean
On the fifth episode of tvN’s ‘ 알쓸별잡: 지중해’ (loosely translated as ‘Earth Miscellaneous Encyclopedia You May Not Need: Mediterranean’), the cast journeyed to France’s oldest city and largest port, Marseille, unraveling its complex layers of history and politics. But what truly captivated hearts was the haunting tale of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry—the famed author of ‘The Little Prince’—as recounted by astroscientist Shim Chae-kyung.
Saint-Exupéry was not just a literary icon but also a World War II reconnaissance pilot. In 1944, at 44 years old, he vanished during a mission. Years later, remnants of his aircraft and a bracelet engraved with personal details exchanged with his wife were found off the coast of Marseille. His mysterious disappearance has sparked numerous theories, from dramatic wartime betrayal to poetic sacrifice.
France’s internal chaos during the war played a key role. After the Nazi occupation, the Vichy Regime governed southern France. Saint-Exupéry was criticized for alleged sympathies with the regime, prompting him to re-enlist as a military pilot to clear his name. Holding steadfast to the belief that one could love their country sincerely without falling into political factionalism, he flew until the end—and vanished.
Shim reflected deeply on his actions, saying, “He disappeared not just as an intellectual but as a man of action.” Her insights reach beyond romanticism, highlighting his last literary work ‘The Little Prince’ as a cipher for wartime anguish and a morally burdened era.
Meanwhile, Vatican lawyer Han Dong-il navigated through medieval history, including the Crusades and the birth of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, exposing the religious fervor and political factions that shaped the Mediterranean. Kim Sang-wook offered a critical counterpoint, reminding viewers that Western historical narratives are often shaded by their own perspectives—particularly those that labeled raiding knights as pure heroes while disregarding the Islamic world’s view of them as violent invaders.
Kim also humorously recounted his futile quest to determine the exact construction date of the Saint John’s Fort. Relying on conflicting dates from French and English Wikipedia pages, he visited the fortress only to find the on-site video monitors malfunctioning. Ultimately, he contacted the management, only to be told, “There’s no definitive date.”
The segment concluded with Kim uncovering the hidden symbolism of the fort’s inward-facing cannons—aimed not at foreign enemies but at the citizens of Marseille, under the watchful eye of Louis XIV. This military surveillance over citizens hinted at the social unrest that would eventually ignite the French Revolution.
Philosophical questions followed: What constitutes a nation? Rousseau’s Social Contract insists on popular sovereignty, yet Shim argued, “In reality, we live under structures where refusing that contract isn’t truly an option.” Democracy, she posited, holds real legitimacy only when voters prioritize collective interest over individual gains.
‘알쓸별잡: 지중해’ airs every Monday at 10:10 PM KST on tvN, continuing to blend history, philosophy, and popular culture for a profound look at human civilization—through the Mediterranean lens.
