Abstract:

The novella “Little Prince” written by Antoine de Saint Exupéry in 1943, points out the importance of a sustainable dialogue between the child self and the adult self. The story is about the reality of the fact that the child and the adult are able to listen to each other with respect, is the very power which constitutes the foundation of human relations. It is assumed that the people who can see the value hidden in the essence of the appearance through their own hearts are able to get to know their own selves and of the others. While the story narrates this assumption using a critical and benevolent wording, both the child and adult selves assume the role of the (main) subject. The verbal and imaginary universe of the child self (i.e. Little Prince) is supported by a positive representation of the adult self (i.e. Pilot/Narrator). The observations made by the Little Prince and the narrator about the adults who are interested only in their own interests, are told to the reader through satire. At the beginning of the story, the Pilot introduces himself as someone who noticed that adults lack imagination when he was just a kid. Little Prince encounters with adult self personalities who live monotone, dull lives on other planets. The aim of this study is to analyse the viewpoint of the child self, narrated in the novella “Little Prince”, towards the life itself by way of his own verbal and imaginary universe. Çebi (2006) developed sub-categories and suggestions based on three themes that are determined as “Stepping in to the Child’s Universe”, “Uncovering Adults’ Own Realms” and “Emphasizing that Love is to Make Effort”. As a result, it is concluded that an open-minded and concerned child self can achieve a healthy adult self and wisdom only by being supported in the verbal and imaginary semantic universe.

Keywords: