Magic Realism

        Magic realism is a commonly used genre in Latin American works combining realistic portrayals of ordinary events and characters with elements of fantasy and myth, creating a rich, frequently troubling world that is at once familiar and dreamlike. It first emerged with a German art critic and was later revived and applied to fiction by Venezuelan critic Arturo Uslar-Pietri in the 1960s. Among the aspects of magic realism, are that idea that the fantastic elements may be intuitively "logical" but are never explained, characters accept rather than question the logic of the magical element, incorporates legend or folklore, and ends leaving the reader uncertain, whether to believe in the magical interpretation or the realist interpretation of the events in the story. The short story, The Moths by Helena Viramontes, uses several of these aspects to portray the life of a teenage girl whose growing bond with her grandmother brings her to a spiritual development that will continue to live with her throughout her life.  In the use of magic realism, the moths become a principal factor of her growth of spirituality and hope.

        In order to better understand the essence of this story, one needs to know a little bit about the history of Latino culture. Some aspects have developed into deluded stereotypes, but for the most part, the traditions have maintained integrity and dignity throughout the generations of Chicanos. Hispanic culture blends the history of Mexico with Spain and any other country that was colonized by the Spanish. Although many immigrants who migrated to the United States were looking for new beginnings, their culture has managed to stay solid all throughout daily living. One of the traditions that most Latinos are known for is their use of curanderos.  

        A curandera is a traditional  customary in , and especially in  and in  communities in the . These women, and sometimes men, are generally valued members of their community, and are almost always extremely religious and spiritual. Curanderas use natural home remedies to cure illnesses such as ojo or evil eye, espanto or shock, mal aire or bad air, and colico or colic.  This is because they believe that the causes of many illnesses are evil spirits or a curse. Curanderos treat these ailments with religious rituals, ceremonial cleansing, and prayers. As one may also know, many of the cures are found in the kitchen. Various items needed for the cures include eggs, red thread, and honey. A very common remedy is to rub an egg over the sick person’s body to cure ojo. Another is to put a red piece of thread on a baby’s forehead to cure colic. A very popular remedy to use when one has gout, is apple cider vinegar. It has been widely used in many different cultures to cure many other illnesses such as allergies and acid reflux. An herb that Mexicans do not live without is garlic. According to many Hispanics, garlic cures persistent coughs, high blood pressure, herpes, impotence, and even ear aches. Now, there are recipes that are followed for the different symptoms, but all are believed to work soundly. While most people usually go solely to a curandero to cure the ailment, most Mexican or Chicano families have at least one member who knows how to treat these ailments. These methods of treating health problems often lead to conflict with modern medicine especially in non-hispanic communities. They are however a few instances that some physicians will prescribe a home remedy. These physicians are usually of Hispanic descent or have been raised near a Chicano community. They have accepted the fact that some remedies work and have incorporated them into their daily practice of modern medicine. This isn’t always the case however. In The Moths, you read about Abuelita stirring up one of her concoctions made of dry moth wings, to help bring the grandchild’s hands back to size. Abuelita sincerely believes in here natural remedies. She even has a treatment for scarlet fever. You go on to read that ever since that day, the narrator never doubts the remedies Abuelita makes. The reader begins to see the spirituality and hope that begins in the grandchild. The bond is set in motion from here on between grandmother and granddaughter.  

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        There are quite a few plants that are normally found at Mexican mercados used for curing illnesses. A book called Las Plantas Medicinales de México by Maximino Martinez lists many of the plants that have natural healing cures. Some of these plants include: aguacate, codo de fraile, culantrillo, lanten, and una de gato. You can find most of these plants at mercado booths or at the curanderos residence. They play the role that pharmaceuticals play for pharmacies.  Many of them are imperative to have in stock because many Hispanic families rely on herbal and natural remedies to treat illnesses they ...

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