Magic Realism

[Mel Roseman <mrosema@EIS.CALSTATE.EDU>]

        Although I cannot define Magic Realism, one striking example
comes to mind:

        In Laura Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate," Tita's sister
Gertrudis falls in love on sight with a soldier.  Later, in the kitchen,
some rose petal sauce acts as an aphrodisiac, and Gertrudis, hot and
sweaty, prepares to take a shower.

        The water, however, never touches her body because "Her body was
giving off so much heat that the wooden walls [of the shower] began to
split and burst into flame." (pp.54-55).

        There are other examples of this intrusion of the supernatural
into the narrative as well.  And the forthcoming movie version of the
play "Roosters" will introduce a wider audience to this genre which
blends straightfowrd narrative with both the supernatural and local
mythology.

                                                - Mel Roseman
____________________________________________________________________________
Mel Roseman
Internet: mrosema@ctp.org