MAGICAL REALISM AS A FORM OF EXPRESSION IN CRISES: MARLEN HAUSHOFER’S NOVEL THE WALL

Abstract

The article deals with Magical Realism, which depicts a literary expression in times of crisis and upheaval. According to Michael Scheffel, Magical Realism is a narrative style that finds expression in times of boundless disorder. Scheffel sees the unlimited disorder as a result of a dual world view (rational/irrational), which usually comes to light through a crisis (identity crisis, war, threat). On this theoretical basis, this article examines Marlen Haushofer's novel The Wall as a literary example of a time of crisis. The novel The Wall offers a multitude of possible interpretations, depending on the reader's approach and the expectations one has of the work. The exceptional value of this prose work lies precisely in the complexity of interpretation. Science fiction, (female) Robinsonade, adventure prose, utopia, women's novel, post-apocalyptic novel, latent autobiography, or dystopia - these are the previous perceptions of the narrative. This novel emphasizes the absurdity and irrationality of human action and strives for a universal historical diagnosis. As a model of Magical Realism, this prose work expands on the conception of realism in the traditional sense.