AN ANALYSIS OF SPACE AND FICTIONAL SPACES IN THE LITTLE PRINCE

Abstract

Spaces, as one of the tools for analyzing literary texts, serve as textual living environments where individuals can discover their sense of belonging and freedom. Due to these characteristics, space reflects the inner world of individuals and, in some literary works, acts as the component that establishes the relationship between the protagonist and the setting. It is often used as a key element to convey the subconscious and imagination of the main character.
Narratology, which has become widely used in recent times, particularly in Western literary studies, focuses on the structural analysis of narratives. It examines the elements that constitute a narrative, explores whether a narrator is present in the text, and, if so, analyzes the ‘voice’ of the narrator and the elements through which this voice manifests itself. Key concepts within this discipline include narration, focalization, narrative situations, action, story analysis, verb tense, time and narrative modes, time-space relationships, fictional spaces, characters, characterization, and discourse.
In this study, Manfred Jahn’s narratological theories on space and fictional space will be examined, along with the author’s use of symbols as a means of social critique. In literary texts, social criticism is often conveyed through a fairy-tale-like style. Fairy tales serve to reflect fundamental truths about human life and mirror societal realities. Social criticism is a frequently employed narrative technique in modern literature. In The Little Prince, the author’s critique of adults serves as an example of social criticism. The characters the Little Prince encounters on different planets represent various segments of society and highlight human flaws. Figures such as the king, the vein man, the drunkard, and the businessman reflect the individual’s position within societal structures, the unquestioning obedience to authoritative figures, and the distorted mechanisms of power.
The story revolves around the Little Prince’s journey from his own planet to various others. Throughout the book, the author critiques adults, and these critiques are conveyed through spatial elements. The story begins in the desert, which symbolizes human solitude and helplessness. The pilot’s experiences while being stranded in the desert represent an individual’s confrontation with their inner self. On each planet he visits, the Little Prince meets a different person, each representing a distinct personality trait. Through these fictional spaces, the author attempts to convey messages to the reader. Although the main setting of the story is the desert, before arriving on Earth, the Little Prince travels to various planets, which constitute the fictional spaces of the narrative.
This study will analyze the narrative space and fictional spaces in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince. Additionally, the symbolic meanings and character traits represented by each fictional space will be explored.