problems defining magical realism
Many of the problems of definition arise because of the frequent difficulty of placing texts into narrowly defined genres and categories. Kafka’s Metamorphosis is the perfect example of this. Adam Roberts notes that Kafka has been described as a science fiction writer. These interpretations focus on differing aspects if the test; the allegorical interpretation focuses on Kafkas implied criticism of the way in which men are dehumanized in the capitalist system; the magical realist interpretation focuses on the realist narrative of a man turning into an insect; and the science fiction interpretation focuses on the event of a human metamorphosing into an insect. That it is possible for these critics to make such varied interpretations suggest that there is a closeness between magical realism, the fantastic, allegory and science fiction.
Magic(al) Realism by Maggie Ann Bowers page 27-28