Latin American Literature: Realism and Magical Realism

Choice in Latin American Literature

The theme of choice is prominent in this week’s Latin American literature. The senator in Gabriel Garcia-Marquez’s “Death Constant Beyond Love” chooses to deceive his people into thinking that he will change the community for the better. Jorge Luis Borges writes about the power of choice in “The Garden of Forking Paths” and how every choice one makes forks out into two realities of how that decision plays out and so on. In Isabel Allende’s “And of Clay Are We Created” Rolf’s choice to stay by Azucena’s side despite putting himself in danger later went on to change his outlook on his own life. 

One way to teach the theme of choice to high school students would be to have them create a map or flow chart. Students would write a decision that they have to make at the top and then stem off into the outcomes of both sides of that decision. Students can continue this chart or map and think about the implications that one decision can make in their lives.

One reference to popular culture that can help engage students is board games, especially the game of Life. In this board game, players get to choose different fates for their character based on scenarios that may occur in one’s life. The game starts off with making the decision to go to college or get a job after high school, which is something that students can definitely relate to. Students can play this game and relate it to the theme of choice in Latin American literature.