Magical Realism. “Pedro Paramo” by Juan Rulfo Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Reality is more than the thing itself. I look always for the super-reality. Reality lies in how you see things. A green parrot is also a green salad and a green parrot. He who makes it only a parrot diminishes reality. A painter who copies a tree blinds himself to the real tree. I see things otherwise. A palm tree can become a horse.” – Pablo Picasso.

Ghost could be the element being used in Pedro Paramo that made the book inspired the creation of the magic realism genre. The short novel written by Juan Rulfo, originally published in 1985, tackles the death of Comala through the narration of the ghosts of the former inhabitant of the town.

Juan Preciado, the protagonist of the story traveled to Comala, Colima as being beseeched by his dying mother in the beginning. He intends to seek the answer in this place of the revenge that his mother wanted him to do to the man responsible for his biological existence, Pedro Paramo. She left Pedro Paramo.

Pedro Paramo had stolen all the supposed lands and the inheritance of Juan Preciado. As the story progresses he eventually learned about Comala’s history through the ghosts of the town.

Although it tackles real pains and sufferings of humans in such circumstances, it was delivered in a surreal situation using entities that were not acknowledged to be real in some aspects – putting it in a magical context or the genre that is called magical realism.

Magical realism is regarded as an artistic genre usually being used in films and literature, where creators are using unusual elements such as mystical entities or even scenarios far from reality while it was told in a realistic setting.

Using such element is to convey the message that is more effectively executed by using entities that has some literary relevance, the message, and its characteristics. These are being considered for poetic license and aesthetic value of the text.

Although the term was initially coined by German art critic Franz Roh in his painting to point out an altered reality and in writing it was the Cuban Alejo Carpentier who formally claimed he used magical realism in his work, still Rulfo’s work had a major influence on the creation of the genre through his novel Pedro Paramo. In it he executed the story in a painting like narration, using first-person and third-person points of view.

Upon scrutinizing the text, Rulfo’s work is nevertheless a fiction especially using such elements but the realism and accuracy of the historic Mexican Revolution discussed as subtext is cannot be ignored. The novel is also regarded as the breakthrough of the “realists” trend of the novel during its contemporary, which was popular and at its peak during that period.

Dissecting the term, it can be explained as a combination of reality and fiction or a fantastical realm. Indeed this is how Pedro Paramo was executed, meeting both the essences of the genre.

Through the execution of the story, it is implying that the genre of magical realism is witnessing. Witnessing and aesthetically retelling the things it witnessed of the realities even how ugly those things are.

It is trying to be honest in relaying to the audience or readers the spinoff that embodies the real matter. The spinoff is the presentation of the genre. In this tale, it is the cultural struggle and human oppression during the Mexican Revolution – the death of Mexican people.

Magical realism will take the audience in the magical spinoff then it will bring back in reality. Just like Pedro Paramo’s statement in the novel “this death really hurt me, my shoulder still sore.”

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2021, October 3). Magical Realism. "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo. https://ivypanda.com/essays/magical-realism-pedro-paramo-by-juan-rulfo/

Work Cited

"Magical Realism. "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo." IvyPanda, 3 Oct. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/magical-realism-pedro-paramo-by-juan-rulfo/.

References

IvyPanda. (2021) 'Magical Realism. "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo'. 3 October.

References

IvyPanda. 2021. "Magical Realism. "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo." October 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/magical-realism-pedro-paramo-by-juan-rulfo/.

1. IvyPanda. "Magical Realism. "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo." October 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/magical-realism-pedro-paramo-by-juan-rulfo/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Magical Realism. "Pedro Paramo" by Juan Rulfo." October 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/magical-realism-pedro-paramo-by-juan-rulfo/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1