Heterotopias And The Collapse Of Boundaries: Spatial Dynamics In Hanif Kureishi’s A Terrible Story

Abstract

The present study is intended to unfold the spatial dynamics in the short story A Terrible Story by Hanif Kureishi’s. In Kureishi’s narrative, the collapse of distinctions between public and private spaces, the interplay of temporal dislocation, and the coexistence of cultural contradictions collectively shape the protagonist’s fractured identity. The home, urban environments, and semi-public spaces like cafés emerge as heterotopic sites, where identity and meaning are destabilized. These fragmented spaces reflect the postmodern condition of existential disconnection and the instability of modern life. Through the lens of Michel Foucault’s concept of heterotopias, this study reveals how Kureishi critiques the fluid and often disorienting nature of postmodern spatiality, underscoring its role in shaping human experiences and identities. Heterotopias are real spaces that simultaneously reflect and challenge traditional cultural and social boundaries, creating sites of contradiction and instability. This analysis contributes to the understanding of Kureishi’s work within broader discussions of postmodernism and spatial theory.