Katherine Thomas

University Honors with Honors in Spanish

Major: Spanish Minor: Chemistry and Biology

Supervisor: Christopher Dennis, Foreign Languages and Literature

Gabriel García Márquez, el realismo mágico y la identidad caribeña de Colombia

Magic realism is a literary style often associated with Latin American writers of the late 20th century. However, in Colombia, magic realism is more than just a literary technique. The magical or fantastic elements that characterize this literature originate from within its diverse cultures. In other words, magic realism roots itself within the history, culture, and traditions of the country. With the goal of understanding the cultural importance of magic realism, I examine its use within various works of Gabriel García Mãrquez as a distinct reflection of the life and reality of Latin America, and especially the Caribbean coast of Colombia. I explore how he uses magic realism to celebrate the Caribbean identity informed by the influence and contributions of Afro-Colombians and the indigenous peoples of the region. While the impact of these cultures on his writing can be found throughout most of his works, I specifically draw on Cien Años de Soledad to investigate themes and characters with indigenous influence. With respect to Afro-Colombian culture and the mythology of their African ancestors, I analyze the novels, El Amor en los Tiempos de Còlera and Del Amor y Otros Demonios, in addition to the short story, “Un Señor Muy Viejo con unas Alas Enormes.”