Magical Realism in Shashi Deshpande’s That Long Silence

Magic realism is a term used to describe the everyday reality with supernatural events.  The two terms ‘magic’ and ‘realism’ have become so intertwined that strange, unearthly happenings become almost an accepted, even normal part of daily life.  The term ‘magic realism’ (Magischer Realismus) was coined by the German art historian Franz Roh in his essay ‘Nach Expressionismus’.  The genre of magical realism is defined as a literary genre in which fantastical things are treated not just as possible, but also as realistic.  The genre of magical realism is defined as a literary genre in which fantastical things are treated not just as possible, but also as realistic.  There are numerous writers whose work falls into the magical realism genre.  One example of magic realism occurs when a character in the story continues to be troubled beyond the normal struggle of life and this is subtly depicted by the character being throughout her life.