In the famous novel Exit West by Mosin Homid, everyone is fascinated with how the typical refugee plot is flipped upside down, focusing primarily on the cause and effect of migration rather than the arduous journey itself. Homid does this by supplementing the novel with a magical element, including doorway portals around the world, negating the need to travel great distances. He speculates that in this world, nativists and migrants could overcome the difficulties of homogenization and create a better world. Some interpret, however, this approach as too fictional to represent a real-world scenario. The lack of historical, cultural, and geopolitical issues implemented into the story creates more of a dream scenario, than a call to action regarding the global refugee crisis. In the following composition, I seek to show how Homid’s use of magical realistic fiction in Exit West to be an unethical and unrealistic way to portray the issues of immigration with ample discussion from outside sources.
Citation:
Hamid, Mohsin. Exit West. Penguin, 2017.
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