Radical Consciousness and Class Struggle in Helon Habila’s Waiting for an Angel

Abstract

In this study entitled “Radical Consciousness and Class Struggle in Helon Habila’s Waiting for an Angel”, the writer tries to portray the socio-political situation in post-clolonial Nigeria with specific references to class struggles, the exploitation of the masses, their alienation to governance and their resistance in the face of oppression. The research adopts Marxism. This is because it provides a useful framework for explaining how economic and political structures shape radical consciousness and resistance among the characters. The study contends that radical consciousness in the novel emerges as a response to the systemic inequality and oppression faced by marginalized group with the protagonists’ journeys serving both personal awakening and broader reflections of societal unrest. This study contributes to the understanding of how literature functions as a tool for political and social critique and how the narrative of Waiting for an Angel engages with the ongoing struggles for injustice and transformation in Nigeria. Conclusively, the study enriches our understanding of the role of literature in articulating the radical consciousness necessary to confront and challenge entrenched socio-political inequalities.