Dream as a Journey of Self-discovery in Ben Okri's "Dreaming of Byzantium"

This article explores the way in which the dream episode in "Dreaming of Byzantium", a short story in Ben Okri's collectionPrayer for the Living(2019), serves as a journey of self-discovery. It begins by drawing attention to Okri's views on journey and dream, two recurring motifs in his work. It then offers a close reading of the short story, paying particular attention to the reality/unreality interplay that appears to underpin much of his work. Analysis of the discourse and content of the dream episode may illuminate the nature of the self-discovery experience the protagonist gains at the end of the story.