The Enclave in Brian Selznick’s Novels : a Transient Space for Self-construction

Abstract

This paper studies the enclave in two novels by Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck, and argues that it constitutes an underlying structure allowing the author to develop his main concern, the necessity for many people to find a new family for themselves. The different spaces of the narratives are examined in terms of Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopia. This highlights the ambivalent function of the public buildings in which the plots unfurl, as open spaces where the heroes can find shelter and friends, and as enclosed spaces where they have to hide. The enclosed spaces mirror the psychological isolation of Selznick’s handicapped or orphan heroes. Relying on Frances Tustin’s study of autistic enclaves and Benoît Virole’s analysis of deafness, this paper isolates the author’s pictorial and narrative processes to create a psychological enclave around his characters. Finally, it shows that this interior enclave is conceived as a transitory space that the protagonists leave to find the place where they belong, with the help of their biological family. The enclave thus becomes a transient space for self-construction where Selznick’s heroes can build their identities as future adults.