The root of the magical realism genre lies in the odd events that take place in the regular modern world. The very narrow, but definitely existing gap between reality and the fictional world of this genre enthralls those, like me, who sometimes dream of ever so slightly escaping their ordinary routines of life into some extraordinary happenings.
Though one might believe that this genre is merely about the unfolding magical reality, the key is actually in the character of the story. Murakami’s protagonists are all alike one another in ways that are difficult to pinpoint. It is no question that they have different personalities and experience different things. Still, there is an unexplainable similarity to them and that might be their translucent position in the story.
Relative to other fictional stories, the narrator tends to be almost “bland”. The audience can easily immerse themselves into the story, as the main character is placed to be quite ordinary and his view unbiased. He is reliable, his backstory isn’t particularly a mystery, and we hear all of his thoughts. However, as reality starts to distort itself, the silhouette of the narrator becomes clearer. He starts making unique decisions, and comprehends his world in ways the audience can’t.
That is when we realize, ultimately, the protagonist is not common or boring, but he is what maintains shape in the changing world of the magical realism genre. In the end, he is not opaque that we can’t see outside of his perspective, or transparent where he is almost nonexistent. He is in between somewhere, being the translucent protagonist of Murakami’s fictions.
Yewon Yun
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