Magic Realism Through Axolotl and Life of Pi

Magic realism defines a style of writing that incorporates mystical occurrences into a world that is close in physical characteristics as well as occurrences as the real world. By writing in such a way, the author is able to create a world that is incredibly relatable to the reader—since it is almost identical to the world of the reader—while still being able to create a world that has magical occurrences necessary for the concepts and themes of the story to develop properly. The reader is able to be placed into a position that they may not have been possible in realism without straying too far to appear a completely alternate and unrelatable world. 

This style can be exemplified by Cortázar's short story, Axolotl, in which the consciousness of a man is placed into an axolotl. This transformation occurs when Cortázar writes, "I saw from very close up the face of an axolotl immobile next to the glass. No transition and no surprise, I saw my face against the glass, I saw it on the outside of the tank, I saw it on the other side of the glass. Then my face drew back and I understood" (Cortázar 4). The man is now able to perceive the world from a new perspective. Cortázar employs this magical happening in order to put the reader in the mental position of the man him the story. The reader is unable to fully comprehend what has occurred in the story just as the man is unable to completely understand the axolotls. By placing the reader into the position of the man in the story, the reader can better understand the theme of the story, empathy and perspective, as a whole. 

In addition, The Life of Pi is written in the style of magic realism as well. This is exemplified by the use of animals interacting with the boy on the boat rather than other people. This mystical occurrence allows the reader to better understand the conditions of the events as well as the theme. In the case of The Life of Pi, the reader is better able to comprehend that the boy is forced to act against his moral, like a tiger, in order to survive. Furthermore, the releasing of the tiger represents the boy releasing that side of him once he gets back to civilization. Additionally, the concept that neither the story with the animals nor the story with the people is better than the other demonstrates that the entire occurrence is separate both in the boy's mind and that the perspective shifts the understanding of an event. The same events completed by animals versus humans leads to much different interpretations and tone, for the moral perspective of the reader shifts greatly. Hence, the magic realism in the story allow the reader to better understand the desperate reasonings of the survivors.