Dual Audience Literature: The Child’s Gaze in The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr . Punch by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean

Abstract

The child’s point of view is what children’s literature has been progressively trying to understand, and then to express, since the second half of the 19^th century. Perhaps inherited from the tradition of tales and fables, which were originally written for adults but were read to children as well, dual audience literature addresses both children and adults. As children’s literature developed, and became more diversified, following the cultural, artistic and literary evolution of society, dual audience literature seemed to recede in an indeterminate area. After defining the concept of dual audience literature, this paper will study the expression of the child’s gaze in the visual narration in The Comical Tragedy or Tragical Comedy of Mr. Punch, a graphic novel written by Neil Gaiman and illustrated by Dave McKean. The analysis will show that the child’s gaze, through constant references to the Punch and Judy puppet show, provides a perspective accessible to a young audience.