Magical Realism 101: Definition and Essential Classics

Magical Realism 101: Definition and Essential Classics

Magical realism is a genre of literature that combines elements of the everyday and the extraordinary. This literature blurs the lines between the everyday and other-worldly, the natural and the supernatural, and reality and fantasy. Magical realism invites readers to explore the surreal through unexpected settings, plotlines and characters.

Definition 

The definition of magical realism can be difficult to explain and often is seen as open to interpretation. In broad terms, magical realism can be described as a type of fiction where the magical and the real intertwine in ways that are unexpected. Magic becomes commonplace and accepted while the mundane and everyday lives of characters often contain elements of the supernatural.

A great example of magical realism is found in the classic novel by Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude. In it, the magical intertwines with the everyday as characters experience events such as flying carpets and repeating, interconnected events spanning centuries all rooted in a small, isolated village.

Characteristics 

The characteristics associated with magical realism make it a unique genre. While the magical often serves to emphasize the mundane, some of the main elements of magical realism include:

• Surreal and fantastical elements: Magical realism includes characters experiencing supernatural events in their everyday lives as perfectly normal with no questioning or difficulty in accepting the elements or magic.

• Simultaneous suspension of disbelief and belief: Magical realism often convinces its readers by blurring the lines between reality and surreal.

• Unexpected plotlines: Magical realism is full of surprise elements such as time travel, spirits, powers and much more. The plotlines are unexpected and unpredictable, often with outcomes that are other-worldly.

• Magical characters: characters often have access to powers and abilities beyond the normal limits or control of the human experience.

• Everyday settings: magical realism often takes place in everyday settings such as a small village or everyday city rather than a far-away fairy-tale land.

• Mysterious events: Magical realism often leaves mysterious elements to its stories such as unexplained situations, phenomena, or occurrences.

Essential Classics 

There are many books that are considered the essential classics of magical realism. Each of the books have their own unique elements, themes and abilities in fusing the everyday life with the extraordinary. To get a good taste of this genre, these books should be at the top of your reading list:

• One Hundred Years of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez: Considered to be one of the greatest works of magical realism, One Hundred Years of Solitude is the story of the Buendia family’s multi-generational life that stretches from the 19th century to the early 20th century Colombia.

• Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel: A story of love, food and passion in Mexico, Like Water for Chocolate is told from the perspective of Tita De La Garza and follows her struggle to love the man of her dreams and the magical events that ensue.

• Beloved, Toni Morrison: A spiritual tale of slavery, Beloved is the story of Sethe, a former slave that must confront the terrifying and magical repercussions of her past decisions.

• Chrysanthemum, Claude M. Pacal: A novel that begins when a young orphan girl is placed with a family in Mexico. The novel is steeped in magical realism as the story quickly spirals away from the everyday with mysterious visions and events that side-line the ordinary.

• Love in the Time of Cholera, Gabriel García Márquez: A story of love, time and the power of magical realism, Love in the Time of Cholera follows the star-crossed lovers Flavia and Florentino as they struggle to stay together, guided by the supernatural forces of destiny.

• The House of the Spirits, Isabel Allende: Taking place over three generations, The House of the Spirits is a powerful novel of family, fate and the spiritual world. Allende captivates her readers with her magical elements combined with tales of understanding and the power of love.

Magical realism is a unique literary genre that merges the everyday with the supernatural and the unimaginable. This captivating genre blurs the lines and invites readers to explore the surreal and fantastical. The essential classics that constitute this genre are often rooted in incredible other-worldly elements while still exploring the human emotions and fragility of our everyday lives. If you are looking for a break from the usual, magical realism can be the perfect genre to explore.