Reading Notes W15: Marquez, Part B

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of the most prominent writers of Latin descent in history and more specifically 20th century. He was a writer both influenced by family, along with evolving because of personal experience; which shifted his studies/future work from criminal justice to journalism and writing. Marquez writings often circled the same ideas while introducing theatricality to further demonstrate his themes/ideas as described in the following section from The Norton Anthology of World Literature: "Again and again Garcia Marquez returns to certain themes: the contrast between dreamlike experiences and everyday reality; the enchanted or inexplicable aspect of fictional creation; and the solitude of individuals in societies that can never quite incorporate them" (986). While using his imagination, creating fantastical environments or situations to incorporate into scenarios or people who don't concern themselves with these non-realistic paths; he's able to provide lucid commentary on countless social and political issues. Being influenced by story's told in childhood from family and authors who incorporate a a mix of non-realism and actual realism Marquez became a pioneer for "magic realism". This is encapsulated in the following portion of Marquez history and life section in Norton's Anthology: "Garcia Marquez found in Kafka the mobile balance of non-realistic events and realistic detail that-combined with his grandmother's quixotic stories and his grandfather's political concerns- would become the genre known as magic realism" (986). Combining his journalism/novels/writings with his former study exploits, he also became an advocate against problematic governmental programs/dictatorships. Marquez became an ally who spoke against the various injustices running rampant within his home South American communities:
"As Garcia Marquez continued to publish successful novels, he also became an advocate for social justice, speaking out for revolutionary governments in Latin America and organizing assistance for political prisoners" (987). The literary work provided within this anthology is "Death Constant Beyond Love".