Gem of the Ocean

Magical realism is a literary style that blends realistic elements with the magical, fantastical, or supernatural. Magical realism in a novel or dramatic work might take the form of a realistic setting and realistic characters, but with the addition of magical or supernatural events. Although magical realism is most often associated with literatures of Latin America, it is found in many other traditions. August Wilson makes repeated use of magical realism throughout the Century Cycle: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone and The Piano Lesson are two other key examples of realistic works with magical elements within the series. For Wilson, magical realism is a technique that allows characters to delve deeper into their own identities, reconnect with their spiritual traditions, and immerse themselves in their cultural histories. In Gem of the Ocean, Citizen’s fantastical, figurative journey to the City of Bones allows him to find absolution, understand his connection to the history of enslaved Africans in America, and live “in truth” as a member of his community. His spiritual redemption would not have been possible without the magical realism of his journey to a mythical, symbolic location, and it is thus a key element within the play as a whole.