the railway switchman

E621810

The railway switchman is a philosophical character in "The Little Prince" who manages trains and reflects on the hurried, aimless lives of adults.

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Statements (30)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional character
philosophical character
appearsIn Le Petit Prince NERFINISHED
The Little Prince NERFINISHED
appearsInChapter chapter 22 of The Little Prince
associatedWithMotive restlessness
travel
contrastsWith the little prince NERFINISHED
createdBy Antoine de Saint-Exupéry NERFINISHED
describes adults as always in a hurry
dialogueWith the little prince NERFINISHED
firstPublicationContext The Little Prince (1943) NERFINISHED
genreContext philosophical tale
languageOfWorkContext French
literaryFunction to question the purpose of constant movement
literaryRole symbolic critic of adult life
manages trains
medium novel
nationalityOfWorkContext French literature
notableQuoteTheme children alone know what they are looking for
observes adults do not know what they are looking for
children know what they are looking for
occupation railway switchman
partOf the series of allegorical encounters in The Little Prince
representsPerspectiveOn adult obsession with speed
representsPerspectiveOn meaningless routine travel
symbolizes lack of reflection in adult routines
mechanization of human life
theme aimlessness of adult pursuits
critique of hurried modern life

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

The Little Prince hasCharacter the railway switchman