Depictions of Death: Applications of Magic Realism in The Kingdom of This World

Presentation Type

Panel

Presenter Major(s)

Communications - Communication Studies, Spanish

Mentor Information

Médar Serrata

Department

Modern Languages and Literatures

Start Date

11-4-2012 12:00 AM

Keywords

Culture, Death and Dying, Philosophy/ Literature, Religion

Abstract

In his prologue to The Kingdom of This World, Alejo Carpentier defines his theory of lo real maravilloso as a world where marvelous and seemingly magical occurrences transpire within reality. After defining his concepts in the prologue, Carpentier uses the rest of the novel to further illustrate his assertions. One of the clearest demonstrations of Magic Realism exists in the depictions of death within the novel. These instances demonstrate the importance of faith and loyalty in the application of Magic Realism. The characters that remain steadfast in the beliefs of their culture experience the possibility of an existence after death. They continue to live in a world both real and magical. However, those characters who abandon their culture, although they try to repent, suffer a definitive death without hope for more.

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Apr 11th, 12:00 AM

Depictions of Death: Applications of Magic Realism in The Kingdom of This World

In his prologue to The Kingdom of This World, Alejo Carpentier defines his theory of lo real maravilloso as a world where marvelous and seemingly magical occurrences transpire within reality. After defining his concepts in the prologue, Carpentier uses the rest of the novel to further illustrate his assertions. One of the clearest demonstrations of Magic Realism exists in the depictions of death within the novel. These instances demonstrate the importance of faith and loyalty in the application of Magic Realism. The characters that remain steadfast in the beliefs of their culture experience the possibility of an existence after death. They continue to live in a world both real and magical. However, those characters who abandon their culture, although they try to repent, suffer a definitive death without hope for more.