Etienne Character Analysis in The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Etienne is Hugo and Isabelle’s friend who works at a movie theater, and then the French Film Academy. He is a warm and intelligent young man who is a good role model for Hugo. He helps Hugo uncover the truth about Georges and works alongside Monsieur Tabard to make sure Georges gets the recognition he deserves.

Etienne Character Timeline in The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The timeline below shows where the character Etienne appears in The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Magic, Cinema, and Imagination Theme Icon

...with an eyepatch enters the bookstore. The young girl recognizes him and greets him as “Etienne.” Etienne responds with, “Hello, Isabelle,” so Hugo finally has a name for his young friend.... (full context)

Etienne tells Isabelle and Hugo to come by the movie theater next Tuesday so he can... (full context)

Isabelle leaves and Etienne begins wandering around the bookstore. Hugo decides to look around as well; he enjoys being... (full context)

Friendship, Honesty, and Vulnerability Theme Icon

...he slips it under his shirt and tries to sneak out of the shop unseen. Etienne catches him and asks him to show the book. Then, Etienne asks Hugo if he... (full context)

...thinks about Isabelle and how she referred to him as her “friend” when speaking with Etienne. He wonders if Isabelle can be his friend since he is keeping so many secrets... (full context)

...automaton. However, when Tuesday arrives, he does make some time to go see Isabelle and Etienne at the movie theater. When Isabelle sees Hugo, she tells him that she still hasn’t... (full context)

...not respond to anything Isabelle says, so she changes the subject. She wonders aloud where Etienne could be—usually, he would have let her in at this point. (full context)

Hugo goes looking for Etienne and runs into the theater’s manager. Hugo asks the manager about Etienne. In response, the... (full context)

...pull off this trick because he has been practicing magic and sleight-of-hand from the book Etienne bought him. Since buying the book, Hugo is surprised just how much he can do... (full context)

...before he can leave, he hears someone calling his name. He turns around and sees Etienne. Etienne vouches for Hugo and so the woman at the desk lets him in. (full context)

Hugo apologizes to Etienne because he feels responsible for making him lose his job. In response, Etienne says it... (full context)

...the description on Georges, it says he died after World War I. Confused, Hugo tells Etienne that Georges is still alive and operates a toy stand at the train station. At... (full context)

...them. Hugo tells Isabelle all about his trip to the library and his reunion with Etienne. He also reveals that he invited Etienne and his teacher—Monsieur Tabard—to Georges’s apartment. Isabelle thinks... (full context)

...is what has happened to Georges. Hugo hopes that a visit from Monsieur Tabard and Etienne will help Georges get his purpose back. (full context)

The following day, Hugo goes to Georges’s apartment where he meets Monsieur Tabard and Etienne. Isabelle lets them all inside and asks them to wait a moment so she can... (full context)