How Does Julio Cortázar Use Magical Realism In Axolotl?

The two characteristics of magical realism that are presented in Julio Cortázar’s “Axolotl” that help the reader gain a deeper understanding of reality are time is not linear and supernatural and natural. First of all, the author uses time is not linear in order to represent that often times individuals only realize things when they are put in the exact situation. According to “Axolotl”, “I stayed watching them for an hour and left, unable to think of anything else.” By using the characteristic time is not linear it can show how everything in his mind didn’t make sense. All he thought about were the axolotls and he didn’t even keep track of the time since it wasn’t as important. This focuses the interest on the situation but it also …show more content…
According to Julio Cortázar, “But that stopped when a foot just grazed my face, when I moved just a little to one side and saw an axolotl next to me who was looking at me, and understood that he knew also, no communication possible, but very clearly.” The two interacted but then formed into one. This characteristic really helps in creating empathy, which helps in understanding the reality, which in this case is the axolotls and the everyday struggle they are having to survive in a cramped space. He experienced the pain and the “liquid hell”. According to Julio Cortázar, “Or I was also in him, or all of us were thinking humanlike, incapable of expression, limited to the golden splendor of our eyes looking at the face of the man pressed against the aquarium.” Supernatural elements are often used to outline and comment on conflict and power struggles: both within the plot of the work and within society. When the reader fully understands the problem they can then take in the situation with their own point of view. It makes the topic discussed broad and therefore many meanings can be made. Just like reality, everyone has their own