Louise Erdrich's Shadow Tag: Magical Realism

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Recommended: Analysis of magical realism

Louise Erdrich’s novel Shadow Tag is embellished with hints of Native-American magical realism while narrating the deterioration of the marriage between Irene and Gil, and consequently that of their family unit. The connection between the magical realist elements of this text and the relationships shared in Irene’s family establish the ties that the literature of Shadow Tag has with its Native-American genre. Erdrich’s use of specific magical realist elements in her novel, such as the reoccurring theme of shadows, paintings, and survival through ancient lore, foreshadow the demise of both Irene and Gil leaving their children orphaned and conflicted. To fully explore how magical realism operates within Shadow Tag, it is imperative to understand

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