Lecture anthropomorphique de l’allégorie du pouvoir et de l’émancipation dans Gruffalo

An Anthropomorphic Reading of the Allegory of Power and Emancipation in The Gruffalo

Abstract

This study analyses how anthropomorphism in “The Gruffalo” functions as a narrative device for exploring mechanisms of domination and social emancipation. Through a multidisciplinary approach combining semiological, philosophical, and pedagogical analysis, we demonstrate how the personification of animal protagonists enables sophisticated reflection on power relations. Examination of interactions between the mouse and its predators reveals a complex system where strategic intelligence, manifested through mastery of language and manipulation of perceptions, enables the subversion of established hierarchies. The emergence of the Gruffalo as a materialisation of fiction becomes the catalyst for a radical reconfiguration of power relations, illustrating how anthropomorphism can serve as a vector for critical reflection on social dynamics and emancipation processes.