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Magical realism in Cloudstreet. Noah Macinante & James Jarrett. Magical Realism.
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Magical realism in Cloudstreet Noah Macinante & James Jarrett
Magical Realism • Magical Realism: is a genre where magic elements are a natural part in an otherwise mundane, realistic environment. Although it is most commonly used as a literary genre, magic realism also applies to film and the visual arts. • Magical Realism is important in Cloudsteet because Winton is trying to show that ordinary life is shot through with the extraordinary. The magical parts of this book allow spirituality and the inexplicable to become elements of everyday life.
The Pig • The Pig, represented the connection Fish had with the spiritual world, this is of particular significance when Lester describes the pig as Pentecostal when Fish is talking to it and saying he can understand it,this is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit, which was often linked with people speaking in tongues and others interpreting them. This idea then continues on when Quick leaves and the pig stops speaking which is a representation, via the connection between the pig and Fish, of Fish’s level of happiness with the family and Quicks absence.
The pig • The Pig shows great importance in the novel, andhas his own chapter (p-128-131) • Lester notices that the Pig talks to Fish and calls the Pig Pentecostal Pig. This blends the words of traditional religion with the magic of the talking pig. • Winton's work is didactic, trying to teach us to see the real world as more than we can usually see with our own eyes. With Fish's eyes and ears we see and hear the Pig. With Lester's sensitivity to spiritual things and his love and relationship with Fish he makes the clearest comment about the magic and miraculous world that Winton reveals over and over in the novel: "Always the miracles you don't need. It's not a simple world Fish. It's not."
The Birds • The Birds, they are also a significant spiritual representation. It is biblically linked to the novel in reference to the story of Noahs Ark, focusing on the segment of the story when the dove returns to Noah with the branch telling him that there is ground, which means the birds in the story represent spiritual freedom. This symbolises the recovery Rose is undertaking while Dolly is going through the ritual of feeding the birds on the back step, allowing Rose spiritual freedom.
The Birds • Like the halo in religious pictures that show holy people, Sam arrives home "looking radiant and proud and pretty well sober" with the bird called Stan. When Winton describes the way the Pickles accept the bird and Dolly predicts he will be a money box at Christmas the reader laughs along with the Pickles'. • "Stan crapped out three pennies and a shilling . . . two days before Christmas'. The miracle of the prediction blends in with the magic of a bird shitting coins and because of the way Winton uses the magic realism form everywhere in this book - we are invited to believe in the miracle. It is a great part of the books appeal and teaches the reader that miracles are part of everyday. It reflects Winton's own life and faith perspectives and beliefs.