Comparing One Hundred Years of Solitude and Bless Me...

Magic or Reality in One Hundred Years of Solitude and Bless Me Ultima In the South American storytelling tradition it is said that humans are possessed of a hearing that goes beyond the ordinary. This special form is the soul’s way of paying attention and learning. The story makers or cantadoras of old spun tales of mystery and symbolism in order to wake the sleeping soul. They wished to cause it to prick up its ears and listen to the wisdom contained within the telling. These ancient methods evolved naturally into the writings of contemporary Latin American authors. The blending of fantasy with reality to evoke a mood or emphasize elements of importance became known as magical realism, and was employed to great effect by Latin†¦show more content†¦By the time of Ultima’s death at the end of the story, the owl has taken on great significance in Antonio’s life and consequently in the progression of his understanding. It was true states Antonio that the owl was Ultima’s spirit. It had come with Ultima, and as men brou ght evil to our hills the owl had hovered over us, protecting us. (Anaya, 256). Other animals play a magical part in Antonios story. There is the golden carp, an enchanted fish that Antonio sets out to find. He is inexplicably drawn toward finding the carp, and communing with it. The golden carp is a representation of the pagan gods that the Catholic Church had set its edicts against. This prohibition causes Antonio great consternation and internal debate. He wonders if his desire to find the fish is a lessening of his worthiness in the eyes of the church and in the eyes of God. None the less, he embarks on his quest. He takes a companion with him as his guide. This is an effective metaphor for the internal struggle facing Antonio in his life at home. Will he embrace the church and become the priest his mother wishes him to be, or will he instead become as his brothers and father, a wandering, restless spirit? The carp appears and a discussion of its home and the mermaids that share it ensues between Antonio and