Answer:
In Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's novella "The Little Prince," the fox actually does want to play with the Little Prince and form a friendship with him. The initial interaction between the fox and the Little Prince involves the fox asking the Little Prince to tame him. The fox explains that to be tamed means to form a bond, to establish trust, and to create a meaningful connection with someone.
The fox believes that through this taming process, they can become important to each other and share a unique friendship. The fox imparts wisdom to the Little Prince about how to go about taming him, emphasizing the importance of patience, time, and care in building a deep connection. The fox acknowledges that he is not used to playing because he has not been tamed by anyone before, but he expresses a willingness to be tamed by the Little Prince.
So, the fox's initial reluctance to play is not a refusal to be friends with the Little Prince but rather a reflection of the fox's understanding of the significance of forming a meaningful bond, which goes beyond mere play and involves trust, affection, and a deeper connection.