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Examples Of Magical Realism In Bless Me Ultima

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The conventions of Myths, Fables, and allegory all have magical elements in common like magical realism. But what sets magical realism aside from these genres is that it portrays magical or unrealistic elements in such a way that it is viewed as natural. Matthew Strecher defines magical realism as “what happens when a highly detailed realistic setting is invaded by something too strong to believe”. Some elements that authors use to support magical realism is using unexplainable things/events in the context to be normal, metamorphosis occurring, and not using regular constructs of time.

Unexplainable magical events/things occur and are embeded in the context to be normal therefore distinguishing it from fantasy making it an element of …show more content…

For example, when the Trementina sisters who are witches put a curse on uncle Lucas. “ They were very angry to be caught performing their devilish mass...They rolled on the ground like wounded animals until he lowered the cross. They picked themselves up until they fled into the darkness, cursing him as the went”(88). This shows magical realism because the witches in the story are seen as ordinary by the townspeople and the marez family who only seeks to cure Lucas instead of questioning how it is possible for them to be witches and to have cursed him because it is culturally accepted. Another scenario in Bless Me, Ultima that supports this element is Ultima's power to heal using her knowledge as a curandera. She eventually is able to Lift the curse from uncle Lucas by giving him remedies that she makes from herbs. Antonio described,”she mixed kerosene and water and carefully warmed the bowl...she took many herbs and roots”(97). Ultima says,”the curse of the trementinas shall bend and fly in their faces”(97).Similarly, Tim burton in his film Big Fish uses …show more content…

The author of Bless Me, Ultima also uses this element using the Trementina sisters. In chapter 10 as ultima begins to heal lucas, the trementina sisters who have now morphed into coyotes begin to “howl” in pain because of ultimas curse. Ultima says, “oh those Trementina sisters are going to have cuts and bruises tomorrow”(95). It is known by the townspeople that witches have the ability to turn into coyotes which is why it is accepted and ordinary. Another example of a metamorphosis is in Big Fish when mr.calloway transforms into a werewolf. In the movie Edward bloom was going to see Mr.Calloway at his trailer in the carnival but when he arrives he notices the trailer shaking and trembling. When he opens the door expecting Mr.Calloway a werewolf jumps out at him. We know the werewolf is Mr.Calloway because he is a harsh and unwilling man which showed through the werewolfs actions.But after the wolf calms down Edward actually beings to play fetch with him which shows that he did not see this as an odd thing. Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a magical realism author, also uses this element in his story “A Very Old Man With Wings” when carnival comes to town and the townspeople say she had been changed into a spider for disobeying her parents. “She was a frightful tarantula the size of a ram and with the head of a sad maiden”(10). Marquez uses imagery and other literary devices to show how unrealistic the

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