Author & Affiliation
Mohammed Mohsin Miyan
The Head & Associate Professor
Department of English
Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB)
The Head & Associate Professor
Department of English
Asian University of Bangladesh (AUB)
Publication Info
Journal: Expressions
Publisher: Dept. of English
Vol: 2 | 2014
Publisher: Dept. of English
Vol: 2 | 2014
Abstract
This study explores the intricate relationship between the natural and supernatural worlds in the literary works of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the master of Magic Realism. By focusing on his seminal novels and short stories, the paper examines how Marquez seamlessly blends mundane, everyday reality with fantastic and mythical elements, creating a world where the extraordinary is treated as commonplace. The analysis delves into the cultural and historical roots of this dualistic narrative style, illustrating how Latin American folklore and the harsh political realities of the continent are intertwined. Key themes such as the cyclical nature of time, the presence of ghosts as ancestral memories, and the personification of nature are discussed to show how the supernatural serves as a tool for deepening the reader's understanding of the human condition. The research argues that for Marquez, the "supernatural" is not an escape from reality but a profound way of expressing the hidden dimensions of truth that logic and reason alone cannot capture. By dismantling the rigid boundaries between the natural and the magical, Marquez challenges Western literary conventions and offers a unique ontological perspective. The study concludes that this fusion of the natural and supernatural is what gives Marquez’s prose its timeless power, allowing it to resonate as a universal critique of solitude, power, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Keywords: Magic Realism, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Natural vs Supernatural, Latin American Literature, Macondo, Folklore.