Michel Tournier and the child : the pedagogical implications of Tournier's juvenile literature

Even a brief look at Michel Tournier's fiction will reveal his fascination with the child. Children, or child-like characters, play significant roles in many of his works, and, in addition, he considers his finest writing to be found in the texts he has published for children. Through his juvenile literature Tournier pursues a three-fold goal, based on what he sees lacking in contemporary society's education of children. First, Tournier attempts to provide children with experiences of initiation, historically an element of education which at the present has been overshadowed by the widespread emphasis on information. Secondly, he attempts to sensualize and even eroticize his books for children, believing that if children come to a better appreciation of their sensual nature, they will grow into sexually healthy adults. Finally, Tournier aspires to teach philosophy to children through stories which invite them to ponder questions of ontology, love, separation, reconciliation, one's relationship to nature, and one s relationship to other people. Despite Tournier's lofty goals, his attitude toward children, as manifested in his texts is problematic, leading one to raise questions of obsession and exploitation.