Game Of Power: Spatial Composition In V. S. Naipaul’s Hanuman House

A House for Mr. Biswas is one of the earliest works for V. S. Naipaul, which has enhanced his position in the field of novels, especially colonial novels. Due to his unique Indian identity, his novels have not aroused the attention among the western criticism. It is the rise of post-colonial theories that changes the condition of Naipaul’s works. In this novel, cultural estrangement is presented to these immigrants because they can not be integrated into the local community, which has made up a new immigration culture. This thesis aims to provide a new perspective raised by Michel Foucault to analyze the colonial novels. Through a spatial study on A House for Mr. Biswas, this paper aims at exploring the spatial composition of the Hanuman House to reveal that it is cultural estrangement caused by the cultural enclave that leads to the culture rootlessness for the immigrants.The thesis is composed of 3 parts.The introduction part observes a brief introduction to V. S. Naipaul and reviews the criticism on and acception of A House for Mr. Biswas. It is also essential to interpret the theoretical basis--Michel Foucault’s space-power theory.The body part consolidates Foucault’s theory and textual analysis to study four aspects: the formation、condensation、conflicts and dissipation of power respectively to analyze the living model and power structure in the Hanuman House. The power network built up by clan’s cohesiveness and the caste system is the main power source. Inevitable conflicts exiting in the Hanuman House embody the substitute for power and fight for freedom. The dissipation of the powerful kingdom can briefly demonstrate the vacillation of traditional belief, the collapse of core power and the deprivation of living space.Based on the previous analysis, the last part argues that it is cultural estrangement caused by the issue of cultural enclave that leads to the cultural rootlessness for Indian immigration in the foreign land.