Abstract

Magical realism, as a literary genre, occupies a unique space between the real and the fantastical, offering a narrative style that blends the everyday with the extraordinary. Among its most influential practitioners is Gabriel García Márquez, whose works have come to define and popularize the genre globally. This paper delves into the profound thematic and stylistic dimensions of magical realism as employed by Márquez, particularly in novels such as One Hundred Years of Solitude, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, and The Autumn of the Patriarch. It explores how Márquez uses the magical realist mode not as an escape from reality, but as a means to confront it—interweaving elements of folklore, myth, superstition, and historical fact to portray the lived realities of Latin American societies.

The research investigates how Márquez manipulates time, challenges notions of historical linearity, and elevates memory and oral tradition as legitimate forms of historical discourse. Additionally, it highlights how his depiction of magical events—treated with rational acceptance—mirrors the spiritual and cultural hybridity of postcolonial Latin America. Through detailed textual analysis, the study also uncovers how magical realism serves as a vehicle for political resistance, critiquing authoritarian regimes, colonial legacies, and societal complicity.

Ultimately, this paper argues that Márquez’s magical realism transcends aesthetic innovation; it is a form of cultural testimony, a repository of collective memory, and a powerful critique of hegemonic narratives. By reimagining reality through a magical lens, García Márquez not only reshapes storytelling but also asserts a distinctly Latin American consciousness in world literature.