Magical Realism

Louise Erdrich’s stories combine wildly dynamic characters with metaphoric language and elements of the supernatural to create tales that challenge the demarcations of cultural reality. In her stories “Plunge of the Brave,” “Scales,” and “Fleur,” Erdrich utilizes magical realism to help mystic elements seem more relatable to readers. The short stories, while otherwise straight-forward, are infused with touches of colorful language and mystic descriptions that, many critics claim, classifies Erdrich as a magical realist author. She uses magical realism in her stories to encourage readers to reconsider perceived ideas and question the determined realities of ethnic or cultural groups. By adding a few elements of the supernatural, Erdrich is actually inviting readers to expand their knowledge of different cultures and perceptions of the world.
According to Shannin Schroeder in “Rediscovering Magical Realism in the Americas,” “magical realism is a literary genre directly tied to writers whose cultures have been threatened or destroyed by a more powerful or dominant one” (Schroeder, 139). Erdrich, who is a member of the Chippewa tribe, could easily be considered a part of that assemblage of authors. In her writings, she “brings her ancestral culture to bear on the contemporary settings of her text” because magical realism allows her to address both of the realties that she is accustomed to: her Chippewa heritage and her westernized beliefs (139). The supernatural aspects of her stories, though strange in certain cultures, would not prove to be “mystical” in most Native cultures. However, for most readers, “The Native American heritage of Erdrich is no longer familiar…and yet, when she uses the magical realist mode, they still read li...

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...h has expressed a discomfort with labeling her work, “magical realism” explaining that “the events people pick out as magical don’t seem unreal to me” (91). She has also been quoted to have said that “there is no quantifiable reality” (91). For her personally, multiple realities exist, and they are not limited by any cultural beliefs or practices. In these stories, Erdrich helps readers suspend their realities long enough to see that other realities exist. By doing this, she is expanding readers’ general perceptions of the world. The dual weaving of magical and literal language helps create a cross-cultural exchange between the author and reader that is truly unique. Erdrich’s stories, while wildly entertaining, also can teach readers about respecting differences, tolerance, and acceptance of other cultures—all lessons that are extremely relevant in today’s world.