LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES THROUGH UTOPIA: A MAGICAL REALIST READING OF KOJO LAING’S WOMAN OF THE AEROPLANES

Abstract

Magical realist writers employ utopia because it represents a fertile ground for extraordinary and magical actions and events. It serves to imagine solutions that are otherwise impossible in the rational world, while utopianism may threaten historical time. It can also provide the energy and vision for social change. Most critics and researchers usually dismiss magical realist writings as shallow and vague in response to this paper brings to light the usefulness of magical realism. For Laing, there is recourse to utopian solutions to the real problems of the contemporary world and this shows his faith in human capacity to achieve great things if given freedom to do what they please. What makes it possible for people to accomplish extraordinary things in a utopia world is the freedom they enjoy. Hence, in magical realist writings utopia presents an indispensable tool for political criticism for postcolonial writers who commit their literary works to attacking the political status quo in their countries as well as suggesting solutions for the amelioration of the conditions of living of the oppressed.