Topic > Magical realism in the works of Tim Burton and Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Magical realism is a truly transformative genre of fiction in which fantastic or mythical elements blend with realistic elements to reveal something about nature or human existence. Over the years, many writers have attempted to capture the majesty of the form, but not all have succeeded. There are two in particular, however, that stand out from the rest. Gabriel Garcia Marquez and his story The Greatest Drowned Man in the World, and Tim Burton's film Big Fish, both have underlying points and opinions that are masked by fictional elements in their respective plots. There are also many human truths in both stories that can be revealed if one simply looks beyond the magical and fantastical elements that mask them. Both stories are brilliant examples of magical realism; the beautiful form in all its entirety. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first story, the one describing Esteban's charm, shows us something important about human nature. The fact is that sometimes people are so desperate for the “newest thing” that they may develop the ability to overlook some details about the item (or, in this case, person) they have chosen to pursue. This is highlighted in the story by how many women are willing to leave their husbands to find time to care for Esteban. Then, later, the men whose wives had left them also began to know and love Esteban. As it says in the story, "there was such truth in his way of being, that even the most suspicious of men... shuddered to the core at Esteban's sincerity." This demonstrates the desire of humans to keep up with the latest trends and emotions. But, even when not initially attracted, it's common for people to be attracted to the excited prospect of others. Overall, the point made by Marquez is that people, when looking for the latest trend, can get so caught up in their allure that they forget to use rationality and abandon common sense. In comparison, the Burton-directed film uses magical realism in a similar way, but the underlying truths are very different. The idea behind his film is how people are often lulled into a sense of security when they stick to the things they're good at, but ultimately find no gratification in doing so. Norther Winslow, a man Edward Bloom meets during his time spent in the utopian city of Spectre, is a perfect example of this ideal. In a previous life, Norther was an acclaimed and much-loved poet, but now, although he believes nothing has changed, he has become a poetic disgrace. When he moves to Specter, he loses all the talent he possessed and becomes trapped in a cycle of repetitive poems and words. While Norther is comfortable in Spectre, he will never be able to improve as a writer until he leaves. The point Burton seems to be making here is that people, by staying in their comfort zone, will gradually forget how to go further and will eventually find themselves isolated as the world changes, leaving them behind. Although the works of Garcia Márquez and Burton are only valid in illuminating certain human truths, there are also some parallels and ideas connected to each other. One of the greatest of these presents the idea that people who are special individuals inspire fascination and wonder wherever they go. When they die, these special people have a close following of believers. Taking an example from Márquez's story, when Esteban is finally released into the sea, he has developed a following of believers whose hearts”..