Magical Realism in Kahlo’s The Wounded Deer and Kafka’s Metamorphosis

The Allure of Magical Realism

Some of the most appealing stories to read are those of magical realism. It adds a fantastical sense to an otherwise regular story. It gives the story that flair needed to set it apart from others. It also can provide a deeper meaning and the author's understanding of the world. This keeps your mind working as you slowly decipher the true meaning of the author's words, because as you may know, not everything is so black and white. Magical realism allows readers to explore complex themes through an imaginative lens, enriching the narrative with layers of meaning.

Magical Realism in Kahlo’s The Wounded Deer

To begin, I'm going to present you with the breathtaking work of art, “The Wounded Deer” by Frida Kahlo. What seems to be an odd painting truly shows a powerful message hidden in the picture. As most may not know, Frida was set back a lot in her life. She endured a near-fatal bus crash, was raised during tough times, and had an extremely unstable relationship with her husband. You might be wondering, “What is the point of this?” Well, the message conveyed in the painting is her whole life story. This deer that has been pierced by numerous arrows, yet still somehow alive, is Frida Kahlo. This magical sense of a human face on a deer, which are often hunted, represents how, despite facing many complications, she still stands strong and almost unphased. As I said, at first glance, this just looks like an irregular, far-fetched painting, but it is so much more. The juxtaposition of vulnerability and resilience is a testament to Kahlo's indomitable spirit.

Magical Realism in Kafka’s Metamorphosis

A common factor in these magical realism stories is the author's background and history, and Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is no different. When Franz was growing up, he and his father did not have the best of relationships. Franz was isolated and neglected as a child, which affected him, almost like mental abuse. The Metamorphosis takes this trauma and expands it in a strange and elaborate way. The Metamorphosis is about a man named Gregor who wakes up and discovers he has been unexpectedly turned into a vermin, or an unliked creature. This attempts to figuratively explain the relations with his family, as everyone in the family only feels disgust for him. On lines 244-247, Kafka states, “The lad only ever thinks about the business. It nearly makes me cross the way he never goes out in the evenings; he’s been in town for a week now but stayed home every evening.” Kafka is implying that this transformation is an irrational way of describing how this outcast behavior puts Gregor in this quarantined state. In many ways, this also relates to the same way Kafka was treated as an adolescent, which again ties back to the magical realism in the story. The transformation serves as a metaphor for alienation and the dehumanizing effects of familial expectations.

Conclusion

Altogether, these works of art found intricate ways of incorporating magical realism. In doing so, the creators were able to express their own emotions, but with a twist that keeps the viewer guessing. Truly, the extraordinary aspects of these texts, combined with this sense of realism, provide a much more entertaining way. Their convoluted themes supply many more interpretations than just blatantly stating them, and quite frankly, there is no real way of knowing the true underlying meaning. By engaging with these stories, readers are invited to reflect on the complexities of human experience and the blurred lines between reality and imagination.

References

1. Kahlo, F. (1946). The Wounded Deer. [Painting].
2. Kafka, F. (1915). Metamorphosis. Translated by David Wyllie.