HETEROTOPIA AS STIMULUS FOR SELF-EXPLORATION IN HARUKI MURAKAMI’S FICTION

Abstract

This research paper intends to scrutinize Haruki Murakami’s novels in which he presents mystical world where boundaries of reality blur for the characters, and they found themselves in existential crisis. It investigates the theme of heterotopic spaces as kind of stimulus for self-exploration in the characters that feel lost and alienated from their surroundings and relationships. This research aims to explore human emotions and their struggle to deal with their emotions. It explores the evolution of characters and change in their relationships with each other that take place in heterotopic spaces that allow them to strive through their existential crisis. The main objective of this study is to analyze the progress in Haruki Murakami’s characters’ journey of self-exploration within the heterotopic spaces. This research examines how the surreal and musical spaces allow the character to face their inner turmoil and emotions. This study is delimited to character analysis. The main focus will be characters’ exploration of self and their personal relationships that lead to their transformative journey. The application of Foucault’s concept of heterotopia will assist in analyzing the characters of Murakami’s novels by delving deeper into the dynamics of the space and existential transformation. Characters’ existential development is influenced by music and surreal spaces, and they set on their transformative journey through these heterotopic spaces. The significance of this research lies in the aspect that it tries to explore the complexity of the themes of Murakami’s narrative. This study seeks to develop an understanding of the use of heterotopic spaces to present the existential evolution as it is still not focused on. This research study will emphasize on the deeper understanding of human emotions and their connection to the world in contemporary literature as well as contemporary world.