preview

Magical Realism Vs Gothic Literature

Decent Essays

While Magical Realism and Gothic Literature are similar in certain aspects, they do have their differences. The genres are different because Gothic Literature focuses more on the topic of fear, horror, suspense, death, and gloom, while Magical Realism focuses on surreal elements, dreams, and fantasy. In Joyce Carol Oate’s “Where is Here”, a strange man visits his childhood home late in the night, where a family of two children and their parents now live, and asks to look around. The husband and his wife agree, although hesitant, and the stranger reminisces about his childhood memories as he ventures through different rooms in the house. Throughout the strangers visit, he always seems on edge, and the couple appears to notice. Once the visit …show more content…

Even the robust green of the carpeting looked faded.” This gives a great example as to the reason why this is an example of gothic literature. The house begins to turn eerie and faded after the stranger leaves, giving clear examples of fear and gloom. This is different than Julio Cotazar’s “House Taken Over” because it doesn’t portray magical elements. In “House Taken Over”, two siblings live together in a large home inherited from past family and realize that they are not alone there. As something infiltrates they home, they lose more and more of their space as they try to avoid whatever is taking over. Although the cause of the invasion remains mysterious, the author explains outside of the story that it is in fact nazi’s that are taking over. Because of this, it’s considered to be magical realism because of it’s surreal, unexplained setting and atmosphere. This is proven when “The sound came through muted and indistinct, a chair being knocked over onto the carpet or the muffled buzzing of a conversation. At the same time or a second later, I heard it at the end of the passage which led from those two rooms toward the door. I hurled myself against the door before it was too late and shut it…” This quote is a great example of how this story is more surreal in the sense of

Get Access