~*Magic Realism*~


Magic Realism is defined as "a narrative technique that blurs the distinction between fantasy and reality". In his works, Gabriel García Márquez used this genre to portray his various characters and plots. He is considered a master of this particular genre.

In the words of the author:
"My most important problem was destroying the lines of demarcation that separates what seems real from what seems fantastic."

If there is only one contribution that Gabriel García Márquez has made to the world of literature, then it is his use of this genre. In his book One Hundred Years of Solitude, he set the standard for Magic Realism. In his works to follow, he continued on this path and used the genre to complement his later books. Latin American culture is particularly full of elements that make up this genre, because the reality of daily life, political opression, and family obligations makes up the Realism, and beliefs in the divine and the supernatural make up the Magic.

Some examples of the use of Magic Realism in his works are things such as people ascending to heaven without dying, people emerging from mirrors, people losing their memory and forgetting how to survive, and infants being born with curly tails as a punishment from the gods.

For more information about Magic Realism, click here and you will be taken to another page that I found about this genre.

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