Magical Realism in the Metamorphosis and Big Fish Essay Sample

Magical realism is a fascinating genre as it incorporates the usage of real and magical elements that allows a text to come to life. Magical realism can take various forms due to its unique elements that are susceptible to many creative ideas. Particularly, these magical realism elements are heavily distributed throughout the famous novella The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and the film Big Fish directed by Tim Burton. Both works show the potential of magical realism. Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, and the film Big Fish both effectively portray the magical realism elements of situations that defy logic, real-world settings, and a distorted time and sequence.

The film Big Fish and the story The Metamorphosis frequently implement elements of situations that defy logic. In The Metamorphosis when Gregor wakes to his transformation as a bug, the text states that , “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka 1066). This quote demonstrates events that defy logic, as in reality, no human can actually transform into a “monstrous vermin.” Similarly, there are many situations that defy logic in the film Big Fish, one example being when Edward Bloom visits the old woman with the eye that tells someone how they are going to die (Big Fish 11:37-13:23). This interaction between Edward Bloom and the old woman assuredly goes beyond a situation that defies logic, as no person could have a future-telling eye. Both works consistently have events and situations that defy common logic throughout their entirety.

Furthermore, one of the most common elements that can be found throughout magical realism texts, is the inclusion of real-world settings. The Metamorphosis and Big Fish heavily consists of events and situations that take place in realistic settings. The Metamorphosis takes place in an apartment in a city, which is logical as the apartment in the story does not appear to have any magical features. Additionally, Edward Bloom in Big Fish is constantly found in real areas with dense forestry and realistic buildings. An example of this is when Edward Bloom is found in a field of daffodils (Big Fish 1:04:01-1:06:18). This scene shows the setting of nature, which is a realistic setting. As with other magical realism texts, The Metamorphosis and Big Fish use real-world settings to express their magical traits in a more realistic method.

Simultaneously, The Metamorphosis and Big Fish utilize a distorted time and sequence. Throughout The Metamorphosis, the reader is not informed about how long the events take place, especially regarding Gregor’s transformation. The time period is unknown throughout the duration of the story, which demonstrates a distorted time. On the other hand, the situation is opposite for the film Big Fish as it consistently flashbacks to Edward Bloom’s youth experiences throughout the film. The time changes from the past, to the present, and even the future, as near the end of the film the characters visualize how Edward Bloom will peacefully pass away. Both The Metamorphosis and Big Fish incorporate a distorted time and sequence to have the reader question the overall time frame.

The elements of situations that defy logic, real-world settings, and a distorted time sequence in The Metamorphosis and Big Fish helped bring both stories to life through magical realism. From the bizarre events that occurred in Big Fish, to the supernatural occurrence of a human turning into an insect in The Metamorphosis, both works managed to use magical realism to their advantage. The magical elements that made up both The Metamorphosis and Big Fish allowed the stories to come to life to give the reader a unique, incredible perspective on what magical realism can accomplish.