《马戏团之夜》中的魔幻现实主义分析

An Analysis of Magic Realism in Nights at the Circus

Abstract 

Nights at the Circus, one of the masterpieces of Angela Carter, is a fiction that cleverly combines fantasy and reality. The novel depicts the mysterious encounter of Fevvers in the circus, a female aerialist with a pair of wings. 

This thesis is a tentative analysis of magic realism in the novel, and it includes four parts. The first part of this article briefly reviews the origin, development and character of magic realism, which lays a theoretical foundation for the subsequent analysis. The second part analyzes the magic realism elements embodied in the content of the fiction, mainly including the bizarre characters and the employment of myths and fairy tales. The third part analyzes the magic realism elements embodied in the narration of the work, including its nonlinear narrative and narrative techniques. The Forth part explores the social reality reflected in the novel.

In short, through the study of magic realism in Nights at the Circus, this paper can provide the reader a better understanding of Angela Carter’s unique writing style. It can also arise people’s reflection on the reality: with the rapid economic development, people should pay more attention to the ecological and environmental protection. People should not blindly encroach on the living space of animals. Besides, modern women should be in persistent pursuit of independence, freedom and equality, making marriage and social life more harmonious. 

Key words: Nights at the Circus; magic realism; nonlinear narrative; feminism