Features of magical realism in the “Neapolitan novels” by Elena Ferrante

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Abstract

The article is devoted to the features of magical realism in the prose of Elena Ferrante. The features of the magical worldview are revealed based on the “Neapolitan Novels” (“My Brilliant Friend” (“Lʼamica geniale”, 2011), “The Story of a New Name” (“Storia del nuovo cognome”, 2012), “Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay” (“Storia di chi fugge e di chi resta”, 2013) and “The Story of the Lost Child” (“Storia della bambina perduta”, 2014). The analysis reveals that magical in the texts is rooted in reality and manifests itself in the strictly defined space of Naples. Meanwhile, the real description is associated with urban myths and various superstitions, which allow us to see the opposite essence of things. The research has indicated that the basis for such a perception of reality should be sought in the borderline state of the main characters of the tetralogy.

About the authors

Nadezhda V. Iavorovskaya

National Research University “Higher School of Economics”

Author for correspondence.
Email: nadezdashmul@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3818-1770

Postgraduate student

Russian Federation, 21-4 Bld. 1 Staraya Basmannaya Str., Moscow, 105066

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