Derrida’s “democratic intellect” in The Little Prince (1943) and The Little Black Fish (1967)

Abstract

In this article, we undertake a comparative study of the need for democracy as presented in Jacques Derrida’s “The Laws of Reflection: Nelson Mandela in Admiration” (1986), Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince (1943), and Samad Behrangi’s The Little Black Fish (1967). Despite their differences, these works share a common objective of highlighting the significance of a democratic intellect as their central focus. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to examine the similarities and differences of the two main fictional characters, however fantastic and non-realistic they might look, with/from Derrida’s portrayal of the character of Nelson Mandela. Our findings reveal that all three authors effectively convey the dichotomy between individuality and idolatry while illustrating how the main characters employ their critical thinking to scrutinize injustice and the need for democracy and freedom.