TRANSCULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF MAGICAL REALISM: A COMPARATIVE EXPLORATION OF PAKISTANI, AMERICAN, AND RUSSIAN FICTION

Abstract

The study explores the use of magical realism in Pakistani, American, and Russian fictions, examining how this literary mode transcends cultural and geographical boundaries while preserving distinct historical, social, and spiritual dimensions. Adopting an exploratory research design, the study employs a comparative literary analysis of selected works from the three traditions, focusing on thematic concerns, narrative techniques, and cultural contexts. Drawing on postcolonial, socio-political, and mythological frameworks, it investigates how magical realism interacts with folklore, spirituality, and lived realities across diverse societies. The findings reveal that Pakistani fiction employs magical realism as a means of negotiating postcolonial dislocation, identity crises, and socio-political turbulence, transforming magical elements into expressions of resistance and cultural reclamation. In contrast, mid-twentieth-century American writers utilize magical realism to critique capitalist consumerism, challenge national myths, and expose the contradictions underlying the American Dream. Russian fiction deeply rooted in mysticism and folklore, channels magical realism toward articulating spiritual yearning and existential introspection, often reflecting a sense of metaphysical passivity. Despite these differences, the study identifies a shared impulse among all three traditions: the desire to dissolve the boundary between the real and the supernatural as a way of reimagining human experience. Ultimately, the research demonstrates that magical realism operates as a cross-cultural narrative strategy, enriching storytelling by weaving together myth, memory, and imagination. It underscores the mode’s enduring versatility and its capacity to deepen intercultural understanding, inviting reflection on the nature of reality, belief, and the creative imagination.