Introduction
In his novel “ Of Love and Other Demons ,” Gabriel Garcia Marquez seeks to build on two specific events that he considers as being important in his past, which he seeks to ensure that he would bring out to his audience. One of the events he had covered in his role as a reporter and the other event he describes is a legend that he had been told by his grandmother. In the book, it is clear that Marquez seeks to build on a combination of both reality and fiction in his incorporation of differentiated aspects relating to love and demons. One of the key aspects to note from the novel is that the term and concept of post-colonialism is relevant for Marquez with regard to his approach towards bringing out the overall structure of the story with an aim of creating a connection with his audience.
The setting and period in which the story has been set can be considered as being post-colonial, as the events in the story occur in the Columbian Caribbean Coast (CCC) with some of the key events describing aspects that are viewed as resulting from colonialism. On the other hand, it can be noted that Marquez also reflects on the sequence of events from the perspective of trying to create some form of historical connection to the storyline. Marquez builds on ‘magical realism’ as one of the ways through which to bring out the balance between reality and fiction as part of the general structure of the novel. The main focus for this report is to examine the relevance of the term and concept, post-colonial, as it relates to the story in the novel while reflecting on the use of ‘magical realism’ as a key part of the novel.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Post-Colonial
Post-colonial, as a key term and concept in the novel, remains as being relevant, as it serves as one of the key factors that define the setting of the story. The story has been set in the Columbian Caribbean Coast (CCC) during the post-colonial period, which can be seen from a wide array of aspects that are brought out within the story. The first key aspect to consider when describing the story is the fact that it brings out the general understanding of slavery, which is a key aspect that can be attributed to colonialism. In the story, a dog with rabies bites Sierva Maria during her twelfth birthday while at the market with her African slave.
Slavery is one of the key factors that can be associated with colonization considering that the entry of Europeans into the African content resulted in a situation where Africans were sold in different parts of the world as slaves. That is the case within this novel considering that Sierva can be seen as having bought a slave for herself with who she moves around with as part of her engagements. The fact that Marquez makes the decision to incorporate the idea of slavery with the specific focus being on Africans serves as one of the ways through which to bring out the concept of post-colonialism. It is clear, from the novel, that a majority of the people in the town owned slaves, which sought to build on the understanding that indeed the novel occurs after colonization of the African continent.
The second key aspect to note from the novel is that most of the people in the setting of the story project their understanding of post-colonialism in a sense that does not reflect on the true understanding of culture among Africans. In the story, one of the prominent aspects to note is that Sierva Maria seems to embrace and practice some of the African traditions, which she views as being unique. However, this leads to the view, among some of the other people in her society, that she may have the devil inside of her. That further supports the position that indeed she may be suffering from demonic possession, which is one of the key aspects of consideration within this particular storyline. That is a view that seeks to support the general position that indeed the setting of the novel is on a post-colonial period.
One of the priest, Cayetano Delaura, describes Sierva in a manner that suggests that he may have had a negative sense about Africans, who he connects to the idea of demons. In the presentation of Sierva’s description, Marquez indicates that, “(Sierva) sat a window overlooking a snow covered field, eating grapes one by one from a cluster she held in her lap...and was in no hurry to do so because she knew that in the last grape lay death” (p.75). From this statement, it is clear that Delaura holds a view that is misguided with regard to his understanding of African culture and traditions. It is clear that although, he is a man of ‘the church,’ his views seeks to build on the generalized understanding of post colonialism as it relates to the views on Africa and colonialism.
The third key aspect to consider when discussing the concept of post-colonialism, as it relates to the story of Sierva can be seen when her father hands her to the Catholic Church with the aim being towards ensuring that she goes through an exorcism. Bishop Don Toribio de Caceres y Virtundes, who is the Catholic Inquisitor, seeks to build on the understanding that indeed Sierva may have been enslaved by African’s Yoruban beliefs. The Bishop creates the understanding that he cannot allow these beliefs to have more power than Catholicism, which the religious connection that is created within the novel. It becomes clear that the struggle revolves around the fact that the Bishop does not believe in him being defeated within the context of African traditions and beliefs.
The ultimate result of the struggle is that Sierva is confined by Catholicism with the aim being towards creating a situation where the Bishop would be able to bring out the generalized perceptions and stereotypes raised against the African continent. Marquez points out that, “The Abbess [Josefa who] brandished the crucifix as if it were a weapon against Sierva María” calling her “‘Spawn of Satan’ who ‘become[s] invisible to confound us” (p.67). It becomes clear that the Bishop holds a view that is conceived from the perception of colonialism occurring within the African context. The Bishop shows significant instances where he seeks to degrade Africans in his views against the demons and beliefs that are considered to have held Sierva, which serves as a clear reflection of the fact that indeed the novel has been set on a post-colonial approach and understanding.
Historical Perspectives of the Novel
On the other hand, it can be argued that Gabriel Garcia Marquez sought to build the novel as historical with the focus being towards highlighting a wide array of issues that can relate to historical facts. Karima (2013) argues that Gabriel Garcia Marquez may have viewed the world going backwards considering that he sought to reflect on a world that can be connected to its history with the expectation being towards bringing out what he believes as being a generalized sense of the world. The historical perspective of the novel does not only relate to its colonial past, which is one of the key factors that has been brought clearly, as has been presented within the previous section.
Marquez reflects on the historical understanding of issues that include child molestations, which have been considered as key accusations within the Catholic Church. For Marquez, this serves as one of the key ways through which to bring out the general perception and understanding of the story within the novel with the aim being towards projecting humanism. Marquez indicates that although Sierva is exposed to molestation by Father Delaura, who is a thirty six year old exorcist “Bishop [Toribio] resumed the exorcism with an energy that was inconceivable” (p.140). From this perspective, it becomes clear that Marquez sought to build on the general understanding that indeed the Catholic Church may have been exposed to instances that sought to build on child molestation. It becomes clear that Marquez has moved on beyond the colonial past that the novel seeks to bring out as part of its overall connection to the storyline created.
Additionally, it must be noted that Marquez reflects on his use of fiction as one of the ways through which to bring out a discussion on the political situation that can be attributed to Colombia during that period. In his views, Marquez seeks to reflect on the fact that the country was experiencing major challenges associated with the political extremes occurring within the country. The ultimate expectation of the novel is that it worked towards creating an opening for factions to engage in a conversation focusing on what would be expected in building an overall position as it relates to the country. The expectation is that this may have played a critical role towards ensuring that most of the readers are able to connect to what would be considered as a significant change in the overall structure of the historical positioning, as has been brought out within this novel.
Magical Realism in the Novel
Gabriel Garcia Marquez employs ‘magical realism’ in several ways throughout the novel with the aim being towards creating an avenue through which to ensure that more people would connect to the understanding of the novel. Magical realism can be seen from the fact that Marquez seeks to create an avenue through which to clash some of the old-world beliefs associated with witchcraft with Western ideologies that can be associated with Christianity within the Catholic Church. Marquez seeks to build on superstition as it relates to other cultural groups, which brings to floor the discussion on magical realism with the specific focus being on the African culture and traditions that Sierva had embraced as part of her expectations in defining the world.
Sierva, who is brought up in a society that is considered as having embraced the culture of the Whites, rejects her own culture, instead, shifting her focus towards customs and traditions that can be associated with Africans. During that period, Africans are depicted to have only been useful as slaves; thus, meaning that having to embrace their customs and traditions may have been viewed as going against what the society dictates. Through this understanding, Marquez is able to merge characteristics that can be associated with both the living and the dead within the same context as a way of projecting magical realism as one of the key factors that brings out the story. Marquez, in his description of Sierva’s casket, indicated that, “….a stream of living hair the intense color of copper spilled out of the crypt” (p.6).
It becomes clear that indeed magical realism remains as a key part of the novel considering that Marquez seeks to suggest that only creatures that can be viewed as having supernatural abilities could live beyond the occurrence of death. The ultimate expectation of this is that it seeks to build on the prospective perception that indeed people ought to embrace the concept of the supernatural with the view being towards bringing out their perceptions of the living. In his position, Marquez uses associative language, which serves as one of the ways through which to bring out the overall prospects of magical realism, as it relates to the understanding of the world (del Rosario Ferro, 2015). Marquez is able to select the words that he uses carefully with the sole focus being towards ensuring that he is able to merge both reality and fiction within the same context.
Some of the key words that Marquez uses as part of his position of magical realism include ‘invisible creature,’ ‘satanic macaque monkeys’ and ‘full moon’ (p.10, 11, 26). From the use of such worlds, it becomes clear that Marques has a clear understanding of the fact that the connection between reality and fiction can be brought out from the generalized approach through which to define overall perception. Marquez is able to affiliate slaves with some of these behaviors focusing on their culture considering that the novel focuses on them as being from an African cultural context (del Rosario Ferro, 2015). In his description of Sierva, Marquez seeks to bring out the understanding of magical realism point out that, “pigs had been poisoned, that the water induced prophetic visions, that one of the frightened hens flew above the rooftops and out to sea” (p.51). He seeks to support the position that only a girl possessed by evil spirits would be able to engage in such magic while in the house of God.
Conclusion
In summary, in the book, it is clear that Marquez seeks to build on a combination of both reality and fiction in his incorporation of differentiated aspects relating to love and demons. Post-colonial, as a key term and concept in the novel, remains as being relevant, as it serves as one of the key factors that define the setting of the story. One of the prominent aspects to note is that Sierva Maria seems to embrace and practice some of the African traditions, which she views as being unique. Marquez reflects on the historical understanding of issues that include child molestations, which have been considered as key accusations within the Catholic Church. Magical realism can be seen from the fact that Marquez seeks to create an avenue through which to clash some of the old-world beliefs associated with witchcraft with Western ideologies that can be associated with Christianity within the Catholic Church.
References
del Rosario Ferro, M. (2015). Between the Magic of Magic and the Magic of Money: the Changing Nature of Experience in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta . Columbia University.
Karima, A. (2013). Hybridity and trepidation of multiculturalism in Gabriel Garcia Marquezs Of Love and Other Demons and Joseph Conrads Heart of Darkness. International Journal of English and Literature , 4 (8), 404-407.
Marquez, G. G. (1996). Of love and other demons . Penguin Books India.
