The Child in Gaiman’s Works: When the Symbol is the Thing

Abstract

Neil Gaiman began to write for adults before turning, about ten years later, to children’s literature. His utmost interest in myths and tales that were originally written for adults but were also read to children seems to be a way to bridge the gap between the two audiences. Starting with Gaiman’s statement that myths and tales have power, this presentation will argue that the author develops his idea into a metaphor, “the symbol is the thing,” which can be found in his works for adults and for children as well. Drawing upon Vygotsky, Piaget and Brunner, we will first show that this metaphor can be related to symbolic play which is part of the developmental process of young children toward symbolism. We will then study how the metaphor works in two of Gaiman’s works for adults and in a few of his books for children. The analysis of American Gods and Neverwhere will reveal that the use of symbols contributes to fostering in the adult heroes a childish tendency to trust and believe. The child’s point of view, though subdued, is nevertheless a condition to enter the fantasy world of adults. In Gaiman’s books for children, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, The Wolves in the Walls, MirrorMask and Coraline, symbols personify the child’s fears and longings as the voice of the author often guides the heroes into exploring the fantasy world in them in order to build their identity as adults. But contrary to his adult heroes who can choose to remain in the fantasy world, Gaiman always takes his children heroes back to the real world.