UTOPIANISM IN ADAOBI NWAUBANI’S I DO NOT COME TO YOU BY CHANCE AND FESTUS IYAYI’S VIOLENCE

ABSTRACT

This research examined itself with the contributions of two literary artists to the lives and experiences of people in the Nigerian society, especially on the concept of utopianism and the various factors hampering its fulfillment in the dystopian Nigerian society. This is because the literary artists is seen as a committed person who uses his work to advocate for an egalitarian society, it satirizes the evils of corruption, exploitation and oppression; and push the proletariats into a struggle towards liberation from all the forces that undermine their existence. The paper will make specific emphasis on Adaobi Nwaubani's I Do Not Come To You By Chance and Festus Iyayi’s Violence, that both advocate for a better life through different means.

Key words: Utopia, Dystopia, Poverty, Crime, Inequality.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification............................................................ ......ii

Dedication...................................................................iii

Acknowledgements...................................................... ...iv

Abstract.................................................................. ......v

Table of contents............................................................vi

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background to the study............................................................6

1.2. Aim and objectives..................................................................6

1.3. Significance of the study.........................................................................7

1.4. Statement of Research problem.......................................................9

1.5. Scope of the study....................................................................9

1.6. Methodology........................................................................ 10

1.7.Theoretical framework.............................................................13

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. Utopianism as a concept (A Critical Review)................................23

2.2. The concept of dystopia.....................................................................23

2.3. Marxism and Marxist Literary Theory...........................................27

2.4. Review of text understudy (synopsis)............................................27

2.4.1 A Review of Festus Iyayi’s Violence (1979).....................................37

2.4.2 A Review of Adaobi Nwaubani’s I Do Not Come To You By Chance (2009) ...............................................................................

CHAPTER THREE: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

3.1. Introduction ........................................................................40

3.2. Utopia in Adaobi Nwaubani’s I Do Not Come To You By Chance.........41

3.2.1 Disappointments and survival ...................................................49

3.2.2 Life of a crime as an escape from

disappointments...........................58

CHAPTER FOUR: TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

4.1. Introduction.........................................................................

4.2 Utopia in Festus Iyayi’s VIOLENCE.........................................................69

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1. Summary and conclusion...........................................................71

5.2. Conclusion........................................................................... 72

5.2.1 Humanity and greed...............................................................72

5.3 Recommendation...................................................................

WORKS CITED........................................................................76