Many people have asked themselves that question. The truth is, there is an equilibrium where the two meet. It is called magical realism. It is a literary concept used to convey real themes with the use of magical ideas. The book, Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison demonstrates the use of magical realism in many different ways throughout it's pages.
One way this book uses magical realism is to portray racial tension between African Americans and White Americans. In chapter four, on page 110, Freddie describes how he was brought into the world. He starts off by telling Milkman about a time when his mom and a friend were walking down the street and saw a woman. He says, "When the woman got near, the neighbor called out howdy and soon's she said the word, the woman turned into a white bull" (Morrison 110). Morrison uses this example of !magical realism to educate the reader about the whoiye oppression in society. In the text, Freddie goes on to say that his mother "fell down in labor pain right then and there" (Morrison 110), and proceeded to pass out, and " never did come to" (Morrison 110). This shows how the oppressed African Americans can just up and die, physically and emotionally from the maltreatment and attacks from the whites. When Morrison brings in the image of a ghost bull, we know it is not real, but can relate it to the situations that most African Americans have to deal with, a bull charging at them with no intent to stop.
One way this book uses magical realism is to portray racial tension between African Americans and White Americans. In chapter four, on page 110, Freddie describes how he was brought into the world. He starts off by telling Milkman about a time when his mom and a friend were walking down the street and saw a woman. He says, "When the woman got near, the neighbor called out howdy and soon's she said the word, the woman turned into a white bull" (Morrison 110). Morrison uses this example of !magical realism to educate the reader about the whoiye oppression in society. In the text, Freddie goes on to say that his mother "fell down in labor pain right then and there" (Morrison 110), and proceeded to pass out, and " never did come to" (Morrison 110). This shows how the oppressed African Americans can just up and die, physically and emotionally from the maltreatment and attacks from the whites. When Morrison brings in the image of a ghost bull, we know it is not real, but can relate it to the situations that most African Americans have to deal with, a bull charging at them with no intent to stop.
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