Abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to study the relationship between texts and illustrations in Beatrix Potters picturebook series, the Tales, through the use of animal characters as metaphors for human characteristics in order to teach children. Moreover, this thesis explores the paradigm of children within the socio-cultural context of the picturebook series. The study shows that Beatrix Potter uses the relationship between texts and illustrations to communicate with the readers and to teach morality and manners to children. Morality is taught through animal characters which characterize the virtues and vices of human beings. While manners are taught through the relationship between the animal characters which are used as metaphors for children and adults. Furthermore, the use of animal characters as metaphors for children reflects the twentieth centurys paradigm for children as a tabula rasa.