The Use of Magical Realism in Regard to Homosexuality

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In the 1970s, Argentina was struck with political and social distress. With the death of President Peron and his wife, Isabel, coming into power – only to be overthrown by a military junta led by Jorge Videla – Argentina and its people were traumatized with terrorist violence “leaving hundreds dead” and thousands having “disappeared” (“Timeline: Argentina”). This era of violence became known as the ‘Dirty War’ and several of the people that went against the current socio-political system were left devastated or killed. Several of those killed were ones who were identified as either homosexuals or Marxists. Manuel Puig’s novel the Kiss of the Spider Woman portrays the story of two imprisoned men from different spectrums of the unacceptable standards that goes against the Argentinean society of the 1970s: one a Marxist (Valentin) political threat and the other a homosexual (Molina). At the onset of the novel, the two characters are presented as polar opposites who cannot seem to get along; which later on, their relationship evolves to one that requires them to have a real desire to become close to one another despite the prejudices instilled in them by the Argentine society. Through the movies described by Molina, we, the reader, are shown the progression of the two characters as they realize that they both are no different from the other and create a special bond. Puig’s uses of the movie the Cat People, the footnotes, and Molina’s death as symbols highlights the idea of magical realism. Through the use of magical realism, Puig allows the reader to become more open-minded towards different societal ideals, specifically homosexuality.
Magical realism, by definition, is a literary style that addresses social concerns, but masks the...

... middle of paper ...

...understand the need for a change in their perspectives towards others; mainly homosexuals. The main point of the use of magical realism is its fantasy aspects. The fantasy allows a safe and controlled environment for the reader, the characters, and the author to express freely worldly ideas and thoughts that cannot be defined nor modified by the prejudices and harshness of the real world. Molina and his homosexuality is depicted as a testament to challenge and to remind the reader of the issues of all societies, not only just of the issues of homosexuals. Puig wishes for a world wherein oppressed people like him could freely walk the streets and no longer worry about living in a fantasy.

Works Cited

Puig, Manuel. Kiss of the Spider Woman. Trans. Thomas Colchie. New York: Vintage, 1979. Print.
"Timeline: Argentina." BBC News. BBC, 07 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2014.

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