Houellebecq. Leaving the world behind

Abstract

In this article, we propose that there is a connection between physical movement and the mutation of thought in Michel Houellebecq’s imagination. The representation of characters who tirelessly move between different spaces reflects a call for change. A comprehensive reading of this author’s narrative production reveals that, despite the emphasis on the fatalistic nature of reality, the possibility of surpassing inhospitable spaces remains open. Crossing a given limit is a recurring tension in the growth journey of Houellebecq’s heroes. They all embark on a series of movements that gradually expand the space of the novel, highlighting its boundaries. Their evolution is closely linked to the exploration of enclosed spaces. Our proposition is that, through the portrayal of borders, Houellebecq constructs a complex literary project that utilizes the destabilizing force of boundaries to invite his readers to reformulate the laws of the inhospitable space of liberalism.