Unlocking the Voices of Children: The Evolution of Child Narrators in Anglophone Literature

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research investigates the evolution of child narrators in adult Anglophone fiction, tracing their development from being marginalized figures in the pre-romantic era to significant voices in the subsequent Romantic, Victorian, and modern periods. It explores how evolving perceptions of childhood contributed to the inclusion and growth of child narrators over time, arguing that children’s capacity for providing unique insights and valuable perspectives was increasingly acknowledged and exploited by authors to delve deeper into the complexities of human nature. By examining key works and authors, including Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, J.D. Salinger, Emma Donoghue and Mark Haddon among others, and drawing upon interdisciplinary resources from fields such as literary criticism, childhood studies, and socio-cultural history, the paper establishes a thorough examination of the changing role and portrayal of child narrators, their cultural significance, and the ways in which they help drive social, emotional, and psychological exploration in literature.