Abstract This paper examines different definitions of magicalrealism in literature and, in particular, compares and contrasts the magicrealism aspects of Isabelle Allende's "The House of the Spirits" and Garcia Marquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude". The books are analyzed within the context of plot, setting, characters, style, and narrative structure. It shows how Garcia Marquez takes his themes and his use of devices to explore these themes to such exquisite heights that the comparison between the two books is really an unfair one and how there really is no comparison between the masterpiece of Garcia Marquez, and Allende's rather one-dimensional, poor attempt at magicrealism.
From the Paper "Bell-Villada (2002) acknowledges that magic realism is not an original construct of Garcia Marquez, that, rather, it came from Kafka (Garcia Marquez continually acknowledges the great impact The Metamorphosis had on his writing), and from Faulkner, and that Garcia Marquez took the ideas from these authors, and built on them to give the world his complex, enchanting magic realist masterpiece. This view, of Bell-Villada (2002), differs from the euro-centric view of Zamora and Faris? (1995) book Magic Realism: Theory, History and Community, by putting Garcia-Marquez's achievement in its rightful place as the masterpiece of magic realist fiction, rather than downplaying this achievement, through analysis, interpretation and presentation of worldwide, magic realist texts (such as those by Toni Morrison, and Rushdie, most of which were written post-One Hundred Years of Solitude)."
Abstract Discusses the magicrealism literary style of Cristina Garcia's novel DREAMING IN CUBA. Traces concept of magic realist to Cuba and Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier. Critical review of characters, and their interaction in Cuba and New York. Themes of family, politics, love, dreams, visions, memory. Author's attitude toward magicrealism.
From the Paper "It is altogether fitting that Cristina Garcia should plunge us into a world defined by the always shifting definitions of the world of magical realism, for Garcia's books are essentially Cuban, and the concept of magical realism itself was born in Cuba. Although this style of writing is perhaps best known through the work of Argentine writers like Jorge Luis Borges, the term itself and the literary style that this sometimes elusive phrase refers to were the children of Cuban novelist Alejo Carpentier. Carpentier was seeking for a literary style (and concept) broad enough to accommodate both the events of everyday life as he saw it unfolding before him in the years after World War II in Cuba and the fabulous nature of Latin American geography and history (Zamora and Faris, 1995, p. 36).
Carpentier's ideas about the kind of writing that could span such..."
Discusses Columbian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez's use of the literary technique known as "magic-realism" in his novel "One Hundred Years of Solitude".
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 5 sources, 2002, $ 35.95
Abstract The term "magicrealism" seems, at first glance, to be oxymoronic. How can anything real seem magical? How can magic be real? The interconnectedness, however, of the quotidian and the fantastical is a hallmark of Latin American literature and one of the greatest living practitioners of this literary technique is the Columbian writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In his masterpiece, One Hundred Years of Solitude, the author creates what is probably the best known, and best loved, example of the magic-realist tale.
This paper provides a contrasting study of the role of women in Latin American magicalrealism in 'The House of the Spirits' by Isabel Allende and 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Abstract In this essay, the writer discusses that in both 'The House of the Spirits' by Isabel Allende and 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, females figure prominently in the authors' narratives of magicalrealism. The writer notes that in both novels, the struggles of the main female protagonist exist on a literal level of story and have a symbolic level of significance beyond the story, about the nature of politics or the nature of women, respectively. The writer concludes that Allende ultimately seeks to question the reasons for man's inhumanity to men, and women, in a political reality, and uses magicalrealism to heighten the consequences of her character's actions and cruelties, while Marquez relates his tale of a fictional village and family exclusively in the register of the fantastic and the surreal.
From the Paper "True, some of the actions of Allende's characters may be heightened by supernatural narrative motifs such as the matriarch Clara's ability to see into the future, but these plot points have ramifications beyond those of the psychological, symbolic, or merely mystical. For example, in a parallel of the terror that will come to Chile, Esteban hits his wife, and Clara takes a vow of silence, and never speaks to him until he dies. This act of defiance, although taken to an extreme in the novel, can also be read as a heightened example of a difficult relationship between husband and wife, and how the oppression within a patriarchal family structure mirrors the politics of the land."
"In contrast, Marquez's female archetypes lack the complex psychology of Allende's females, existing in the material dimension alone rather than on simultaneous spiritual and material planes."
Abstract This paper discusses the history of the definitions of magicrealism. It specifically focuses on magicrealism within photography and if the term can be applied to specific forms of photography. The paper discusses the medium of photography and how the writer uses this medium. It also looks briefly at digital photography, as well as black and white photography.
From the Paper " It is very difficult to apply the term magic realism to photography of any kind; perhaps because it seems that every kind of photography may be capable of being magic realism. Since the meaning of the term has come to encompass so many definitions, there is an argument for many kinds of photographs to be considered as magic realist photographs. In my photography, I truly want to infuse the logical even "normal" world with something as illogical as a state of mind, an imagination. By still using a representational language to do so, I believe my photographs can fit into the Roh and Hartlaub description of magic realism as well as the Carpentier and Uslar-Pietri description. It is possible to use objectifiable or representational art rather than abstract art to express a part of human reality. It may seem that the objective world is "crystallized" by a photograph, but the crystalline structure of a real external situation is easily fractured by the tiniest suggestion of an internal or psychological reality; the latter is in fact strengthened by the cold and certain detail of the former."
Abstract Within the context of magicalrealism, this paper attempts to delineate the character of Angela Vicario ,from "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, primarily, as a product of her marginalized gender and class in a contemporary Latin American town. Further, it analyzes her as an individual who in spite of the rigid socio-cultural constructs of acceptable femininity, code of honor and marriage, 'magically' rises from subjection to subjectivity. The paper also examines the larger fabric of this novel which is fraught with rich suggestiveness, ambiguity and contradiction as it questions the legitimacy of an act of murder (Santiago's) which has been committed without its reason being either proved or justified.
From the Paper "The interplay of several statements given by various witnesses and members of the society locates Angela as a "perfect" girl who was "reared to get married." The narrative fits her well within the model of traditional-cultural notions of attractive femininity. The omniscient narrator underlines her suitability as a prospective wife as she was the "prettiest" amongst the Vicario girls. Further, she could also "sew by machine, wash and iron ... and write engagement announcements." Moreover, to quote the narrator's mother, "any man will be happy with them (Vicario girls) because they have been raised to suffer". These quotes make important statements on the gender based marginalization of as Angela. It exposes the constructed nature of gender, wherein girls are trained to perform certain duties in order to fulfill a particular role in a patriarchal set-up. "
Abstract The paper illustrates how Robertson Davies created a novel that was engulfed in memories of his childhood and that focused on the magic that exists in life in many ways. The paper looks at how Davies allowed the characters of Fifth Business to examine the magic of religion, the belief in saints, the concept of magic itself and the spiritual belief that each individual has a clear role to play throughout life.
From the Paper "His main character, Dunstan, serves as a guide for the novel, because it is through this character that the reader is capable of comparing fantasy to reality, and entering the world that Davis has created. Wendy Faris and Lois Zamora contend that this element is important to magical realism because the author constructs his world in such a way that regardless of how unbelievable the world may be outside of the book, within the book it possesses perfect logic to the reader."
Abstract The paper discusses how the use of MagicalRealism, as a technique, in "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo and "Death Constant Beyond Love" by Gabriel-Garcia Marquez, is essentially one whereby elements of the unreal are inextricably woven into real life to question the difference, if any, between illusion and reality. The paper shows how the use of the technique is apparent in the overall story as well as in the way the principal protagonists are shown dealing with life.
From the Paper "Similarly, in Death Constant Beyond Love, Gabriel Garc"a-M"rquez's story of Senator Onesimo Sanchez's continual quest for life in the face of imminent death, the question of illusion and reality is highlighted through the Senator's continued campaigning and his indulgence in an affair that ultimately causes his downfall. Was the Senator deluding himself with the only reality being death or was the Senator only continuing to live what had always been his reality as in the false make-believe world of politics and in fact, being realistic, by making most of the time he had left with Laura ("he found the woman of his life": 2430)? Thus, the lines between illusion and reality begin to blur depending on the perspective from which it is considered ? the Senator's or the reader?s."
Abstract This twelve page undergraduate paper compares the modes of magicalrealism used by Laura Esquivel to those used by Borges. While there are similarities, the attitudes of the authors result in profound contrasts, primarily in terms of gender and philosophical outlook.
Abstract Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his works are inextricably linked to a style of literature known as magicalrealism, which is a type of literature that is usually characterized by elements of the fantastic woven into the story with a serious presentation. This paper examines how Garcia Marquez uses this element in his works, such as in "One Hundred Years of Solitude" and "Leaf Storm".
From the Paper "In his 1955 book, "Leaf Storm," Marquez set a new direction to Colombian literature by experimenting with linear time (Cohn). He suspended the forward movement of time through the experiences of the individual characters and of the town itself (Cohn). His use of time reduplicates at the level of form the historical and social situations in a town where the flow of time is no longer significant."
Abstract One of the major foci of Octavio Paz's writings is the nature of being a Mexican or a mestizo. This paper shows how he attempts to persuade other Mexicans through his writings to be proud rather than ashamed of their 'in-betweeness'. The paper explains the writing form of MagicalRealism and shows how it has been championed by a number of Latin American writers as a way to express political views. Paz uses highly symbolic and inventive language to make people look at the world in novel ways. Because he approaches the problem of Mexican identity through the use of magicalrealism, his writing is less threatening to many who are trying to negotiate their own sense of self.
From the Paper "Octavio Paz is one of the writers and thinkers most responsible for helping Mexicans come to an understanding of their own place in the world, and the relationship between "Mexicanness" and mestizo-ness. Through his writings he has helped both Mexicans and everyone else come to understand that the mixed heritage of the people of Mexico is not something that should be attempted to be overcome but is rather something that should be celebrated."
Abstract This paper examines the structure of the genres of American Moralism and Latin magicalrealism to depict themes that are common between these two genres. Two short stories are used in order to demonstrate this concept: These stories are Jolio Cortazar's work of magicalrealism entitled "Continuity of Parks" and Ernest Gaines' work of American Moralism entitled "Dead Man Walking".
Abstract The paper attempts to demonstrate Alice Walker's use of magicalrealism in "To Hell with Dying," by focusing on the character Susan and her ability to embrace the passing of time by acknowledging its physical signs, and coming to grips with changes in life. The paper discusses how Walker brings forth the Southerners' connection to the land through magicalrealism which is not merely her writing style but is a deeper extension of the southern imagination.
From the Paper "The South has often been associated, with a love of the land, a salt of the earth mentality where you are part of the land form which you grow up. There is an individual and personal connection to the land that stretches back in time, and is based on tradition and love, a bonding if you will with the land thereof. The expression of this bonding can come in many forms; it is dependent on the past and the means by which the past has come to symbolize the land for each person, but in its expression it takes on an even more personal tone. It is the subjective expression of the sensibilities of the individual in the south according to their specific personal characteristics. In the case of Walker, this expression of the southern imagination comes through her sense of a need for empowerment as a woman."
Abstract This research will examine elements of magicrealism and what Malcolm Bradbury calls "the paradoxes and ambiguities of human identity" that emerge in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. The research will set forth the pattern of ideas that make Song of Solomon relevant to identity issues in the context of black culture
From the Paper "This research will examine elements of magic realism and what Malcolm Bradbury calls "the paradoxes and ambiguities of human identity" that emerge in Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon. The research will set forth the pattern of ideas that make Song of Solomon relevant to identity issues in the context of black culture and then discuss the means by which such narrative strategies and devices as magic realism, as well as other features of Morrison's work that Bradbury identifies, such as the power of myth and hidden fables, are employed to reach coherent meaning and sentient effect.
In discussing cultural myth and archetypes that explain collective memory and cultural identity, Eliade (27-8) refers to "acts which presuppose an absolute reality, a reality which is extrahuman . . . created in illo tempore, in the mythical period, by an ..."
Abstract This paper introduces five different reviews of the short story "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez which is set in a poor South American village and which discusses various themes and purposes for the readers. Three of the analyses examine the theme of magicalrealism in the story and one discusses the political allegory that Marques utilizes to express his political thoughts about Colombia. The last analysis is a discussion of how the existence of poverty in the story, reinforces the fact that the people depended heavily on religion and "folklore" in order to understand the sudden descent of an angel to their village.
From the Paper "After formally defining the term Magic Realism, Gioia provides further historical background about the nature of this new genre in fiction, and finally starts analyzing the short story (A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings) by providing a brief summary of it. Gioia's analysis of the story focuses on how the magic and the real are blended or fused together in order to come up with an interesting and good story. The author criticizes that Marquez's realistic characters are ?positively drab,? and that his style of narration is ?impersonal,? similar to that of ?a newspaper article, and as a episodic as a legend.? Gioia states that the story's impersonal style of narration gives Marquez an air of detachment with the story."
