NIGERIAN FICTION AS A REPRESENTATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES: AN EXAMINATION OF AYOBAMI ADEBAYO'S A SPELL OF GOOD THINGS

The concept of socio-economic inequalities in Nigerian fiction has widened over the years examining diverse issues like poverty, limitation to employment opportunities and inequality in education. However, several reviews on Ayòbámi Adébáyò's A Spell of Good Things examine how class disparities, political corruption and economic inequalities lead to poverty; but they have not examined how these inequalities shape individual identity and relationship through the lens of literary theory. Therefore, this study examines the depiction of socio-economic inequalities in Ayòbámi Adébáyò's A Spell of Good Things and explores how these socio-economic inequalities shape individual identity and relationship between characters in the novel. This study employs a qualitative methodology, paying close attention to the novel's portrayal of socio-economic inequalities and its impact on individual identity and relationship as depicted in the novel. Through the lens of Marxist literary theory, focusing specifically on Georg Lukács critical realism, the study examines how individual identity, friendship and family bonds are shaped and mediated by socio-economic inequalities in the society. The study reveals how individual social background shape aspirations, choices, and sense of self, influencing personal growth, ambition and opportunities; and also making them vulnerable to political exploitation. It reveals how relationship, family bonds, and friendships are shaped by financial status creating power imbalance, emotional strain, and fractured bonds. The study concludes that the novel is not only a literary exploration of socio-economic inequalities but also a social commentary offering valuable insights into how socio-economic inequalities shape individual identity, relationship and aspirations in the society. Keywords: Class disparities, identity, marxist, socio-economic inequalities