Magical Realism in The Garden of Forking Paths Essay

Magical Realism in The Garden of Forking Paths While there may be some debate as to whether the Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges was technically a Magical Realist, some may feel that his works definitely do have some of the characteristics of what is considered Magical Realistic literature. Among his various types of works are poetry, essays, fantasies, and short fictions. Often referred to in essays that discuss the history and theory of Magical Realism, The Garden of Forking Paths is probably Borges most popular short story. Published in 1964 in a collection of Borges works entitled Labyrinths: Selected Stories Other Writings, his short story The Garden of Forking Paths appears to have several of the elements of Magical†¦show more content†¦For example, Yu Tsun had a grandfather who wrote an incomplete novel about labyrinths and who also tried to construct a labyrinth in which all men would get lost. During his journey, Yu Tsun begins to ponder over his grandfathers lost labyrinth. Then, he says, I forgot my destiny of one pursued. I felt myself to be, for an unknown period of time, and abstract perceiver of the world . . . The road descended and forked among the now confused meadows (Borges 23). As a result of thinking about the maze, Yu Tsun finds himself trapped in a garden maze at Dr. Alberts house (Wiehe 980). Of course, being caught in what is seemingly an imaginary maze introduces a magical element into the story. Being caught in an imaginary maze serves the purpose of giving the reader a different perspective on real life. The imaginary maze represents the numerous paths that one can travel and all of the possible outcomes from these paths. While in real life a person can really only go down one path, the imagination can venture down all possible paths. Two ways in which this is illustrated in The Garden of Forking Paths are by the meaning of Yu Tsuns grandfathers novel and by the plot of The Garden of Forking Paths. When explaining the meaning of the novel by Tsui Pen, Yu Tsuns grandfather, Stephen Albert states: In the work of Tsui Pen, all possible outcomes occur; each one is the point of departure for other forkings. Sometimes, the paths of thisShow MoreRelatedMagical Realism As A Sense Of Psychological Mystery And Wonder3415 Words   |  14 PagesMagical realism, at its very root, has always involved a sense of psychological mystery and wonder; partly due to its intended audience, which may range from mere children to adults seeking a sense of spirituality or morality through verbatim. Psychology involves in particular the study of cognitive occurrences and processes. Magical realism can broadly be defined as a typically mundane novel injected with â€Å"the other,† which is something extraordinary or unbelievable. With the outlandish schemesRead MoreThe Heroic Adventure in The Garden of Forking Paths, by Jorge Luis Borges2499 Words   |  10 PagesJorge Luis Borge the author of the essay â€Å"The garden of forking paths† was born August 1899 and died in June 1986. He was an Argentine poet and short story writer. He was born in Buenos Aires in Argentina. His works shows a reflection of hallucinatory in all literature. His works have contributed to philosophical literature and to both fantasy and magical realism. During his lifetime he wrote so many books amongst which areRead MoreSimilarities Between The Aleph And The Zahir805 Words   |  4 Pagesselect few people claim to see it, but rest of the world has not. The four stories demonstrate magical realism by all having unrealistic situations that seem very real. The events and some of the things the characters experience in each story are not necessarily unimaginable, but more unbelievable. It is hard to believe that some of these things can actually happen. When I read The Garden of Forking Paths, by Jorge Luis Borges, I was reminded of a book that I read in seventh grade, Miss PeregrinesRead MoreCharacteristics Of Erges And Escher1506 Words   |  7 Pagesof spaces that are impossible to escape. Borges completes this theme in his works, like â€Å"The Circular Ruins† and the â€Å"Garden of Forking Paths.† In â€Å"The Circular Ruins,† there is an underlying theme of idealism, which deals with the use of dreams. These dreams are connected to one another in a never-ending pattern, like Escher’s prints. Part II: Garcia Marquez— Magic Realism (70 pts) â€Å"Death Constant Beyond Love† Name two main themes (besides death and love) in the story and explain how Marquez