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Magical Realism In Pedro Paramo By Juan Rulfo

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In Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Paramo, magical realism is found actively throughout the novel which allows him to give his story the necessary character that it needs. Magical realism is the unique idea of fusing together reality and fantasy usually in artwork and novels. It was first incorporated into novels in Latin America and it gives the reader a sense of realistic perspective with a hint of imagination. It has since expanded as a genre in modern day literature and is still used to give that contradicting awareness in readers and even writers. Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Paramo provides that notion and uses magical realism as the basis of how Rulfo expresses and binds Mexican beliefs with the idea of spirits that guide the narrator, Juan Preciado in the search for his father. Throughout the novel, ghosts that had once lived in Comala come out to talk to Juan, but as a reader one does not know if these figures are in fact alive or just figments of the town’s once lively population. Abundio, Damiana, and Eduviges are some examples of the forgotten souls that appear to Juan as helpers for his cause or even symbols that enlighten him about the town and his father. Abundio, who is introduced near the beginning of Juan’s journey is one of the many souls and examples of magical realism in Pedro Paramo. Although Abundio did not assist Juan in any major way besides pointing him towards Eduviges’ home, he is a key figure in figuring out the magical realism behind Rulfo’s novel. He had appeared to Juan as he needed help finding Eduviges, but once he found Eduviges and explained who helped him, she had helped him then make the shocking discovery that Abundio was in fact deceased and Juan had been talking to his spirit for the entirety of their conversation. With a confused tone as she spoke she said: ”Then it can’t have been him. Besides, Abundio died. I’m sure he’s dead. So you see? It couldn’t have been him. (Rulfo 16)” It is a possibility that there had been a loss of communication between Eduviges and Juan; both parties could have been mistaken when describing who they were conversing about. It isn’t until the very end of story that Abundio is known as the drunk man that killed his own father: Pedro Paramo. Rulfo’s

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