Opposites Intertwined-A Victorian Fairy Tale of Light and Darkness An analysis of the work “The Day Boy and the Night Girl”, by George MacDonald (see works cited), evokes questions regarding its classification as a fairy tale. These questions arise due to the adherence of the story to the basic structure and themes of a fairy tale, although, as will be explained below, the story 's structure is materially different in a way which may be explained by the circumstances of the historical period in which the story was written. Unlike literary fairy tales, “The Day Boy and the Night Girl” is not an oral tale passed down through tradition and then transcribed. Instead, George MacDonald wrote an original story. Nevertheless, the themes of the story are those that are to be found in most fairy tales-namely, the element of romance, the dichotomy of good and evil, and the happy ending (see works cited 2).
In simple words, ‘Magical Realism’ is a weird oxymoron that is a fusion of two contrasting elements, fantasy and reality in such a manner that the hidden ‘magic’ in reality is uncovered fluidly. M.H. Abrams in his A Glossary of Literary Terms says, the writers of ‘Magic Realism’, “…weave, in an ever-shifting pattern, a sharply etched realism in representing ordinary events and details together with fantastic and dreamlike elements, as well as with materials derived from myth and fairy tales”. The term was for the first time used by a German art critic, Franz Roh in 1925 who applied it to a group of painters working in Germany. Focusing on the ordinary objects, the painters uncovered the mystery in them.
After the success of the Harry Potter books, Rowling graced us with another series of films focusing on the pre-Harry Potter period led by Newt Scamander, who of course reminds us of Hagrid, who is loves magical creatures as well. In the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them film, they introduced different magical creatures that we haven 't seen in the Potter films. Now, because of the that, a theory was formed that Aragog, Hagrid’s spider in the Chamber of Secrets, actually came from Newt, since Hagrid said, he got him from a pocket of a traveler, that traveler is actually Newt
The incorporation of the elements of “magic” and “realism” gives beauty and meaning to Midnight’s Children. Rushdie’s use of magic realism as a narrative technique is very pertinent as he portrays the postcolonial life in his novel. The Magic realism can therefore be seen as a contrivance binding Indian culture of the past to the contemporary multicultural interface. Rushdie used fantasy as a method of producing intensified images of reality. He uses this “intensified images of reality” in Midnight’s Children so as to
Magic realism or magical realism is a genre where magic elements play a natural part in an otherwise mundane environment .Magic Realism is used in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold to show how usual occurrences seem mystical through the addition of illusory details. Although it is most commonly used as a literary genre, magic realism also applies to film and the visual arts . Marquez cleverly employs magic realism in his works (One Hundred Years of Solitude) to mix magic and reality so that the divergence between the two strikes out. This technique is utilized by Marquez through the addition of magical elements to humour, superstition, and dreams. Chronicle is defined as a factual written account of important events in the order of their occurrence .
“We are no longer content with merely surrounding ourselves with “nice things”. Instead, we increasingly strive to become the “nice thing” itself—to literally embody conspicuous consumption. In this new era of conspicuous consumption, it is not enough to control the material world around us—to control resources, people, and capital. Now, we strive to also control that most intimate, yet most complex and mysterious, of entities: the body.” (Carolan 2005, p84). This is especially relevant in Harry Potter, as when he discovers he is a wizard he is brought to Diagon Alley.
The term technomancy refers to ‘an imaginary or fictional category of magical abilities that affect technology or to magical powers that are gained through the use of technology’. Technomancy is a common theme in certain subgenres of both science fiction and modern-day fantasy fiction particularly fiction that crosses science fiction and fantasy genres. Another form of technomancy sometimes called 'industrial magic’ has magical devices operating similarly to technological devices. The Harry Potter’s setting has owl familiars serving as a postal system, animated newspapers and fireplace embers serving as video screens, phantom quills and parchments as speech-recognition software, even flying brooms and orbs as athletic equipment and so on. The novel blends science and magic especially in the form of his webgoblin and Melchior.
His portrayal of characters and technique of storytelling are purposeful. He uses magic realism as a means for finding truth. The factors he uses to locate the truth give an aspect of magic throughout. Salman Rushdie artistically incorporates the elements of magic realism in Midnight’s Children. His use of magic realism as a narrative technique is intentional.
This new stage in the history of the novel, which began early in the sixties, is deeply connected with the peculiarities of the postmodernist literature. The works of Carter and Rushdie are traditionally regarded as examples of "magic" realism and therefore are also characterized by the postmodern nature of the narrative, in which the process of rewriting history is one of the utmost importances. Salman Rushdie juxtaposes his own view of India and post colonial discourse to the imperial view of history through magic realism or more precisely, through Saleem’s appearance, personal history and telepathy. Moreover, only a combination of two worlds and a mix of historical events, which is possible through techniques of magic realism provided an opportunity to raise issues of identity and hybridity and “provide a positive and liberating response to the codes of imperial history and its legacy of fragmentation and discontinuity” (Slemon 21).While Rushdie takes the perspective of the oppressed colonies, Angela Carter’s “ex- centric” view of reality was focused on the mistreated women. The use of magic realism, to Kristian Padley, provides to many writers a way in which “patriarchal tenacity could be circumvented.
Tolerance of People who are Different The idea of tolerance within a community is highly important in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The plot of the novel explores this idea through Salazar Slytherin's intention to wipe out "mudbloods," or wizards with non- magical ancestors, from Hogwarts. Harry himself is only half-wizard, and Hermione's parents are both "Muggles," non-magical people. However, Harry and Hermione are better wizards than Malfoy, who is from a family of generations of pure wizard blood, showing that dedication and work, rather than genetic heritage, are the important factors in guaranteeing success. Rowling describes the Slytherin students as inbred: all are oversized, strange-looking, mean and unintelligent.