BETWEEN REAL AND IMAGINED: HETEROTOPIA IN TRESPASSING BY UZMA ASLAM KHAN

Abstract

This paper explores the element of heterotopia in the novel Trespassing by Uzma Aslan Khan (2003) using critical criticism of literature. Based on the theoretical concept of heterotopia introduced by Michel Foucault, the study examines the navigation of characters through the spaces that are real and imaginary, natural and built, or controlled and transgressive in a social context. As evidenced during the analysis, heterotopic spaces in the novel, such as airports, social events, and urbanized locations, are places of displacement, disconnecting, and reflection, which reflect the conflict between the autonomy of individuals and the society. Developing the interaction between heterotopia and ecological consciousness, the paper helps to understand how the novel establishes the correlation between people, their surroundings, and social-cultural institutions. The results show that besides the spatial and temporal experiences of characters, heterotopia is a factor that mediates their interactions on ethical, social, and ecological levels, providing deeper insights into the present day spatial, environmental, and cultural issues.