The Metamorphosis's What Of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?

Magical realism defies reality, infusing ordinary events with something extraordinary. In literature, it challenges traditional storytelling, inviting readers to explore the extraordinary within the ordinary. Both The Metamorphosis and “What of This Goldfish, Would You Wish” utilize a fantastical element, the cockroach and goldfish, to demonstrate the withdrawal of both characters, highlighting the theme of alienation. In "What of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" The magical realism is shown through a talking goldfish that grants wishes, However, Segei doesn't want to use his wishes for himself and is locked up in his house with no one but the goldfish to talk to. In the short story, the goldfish serves as a magical element. It plays a crucial role in

I don't want to die." This quote highlights that Segei is a kindhearted person, helping the fish out, and foreshadowing the story’s growth. Later in the story, we find out that Segei used up 2 of his wishes on other people, but is holding onto the last one because he is lonely. When he does the wrong thing by accidentally killing Yonatan after a misunderstanding of thinking his fish will be stolen, he doesn't want to use his last wish on Yonatan but does anyway, losing his only friend “the goldfish”. After Yonatan asks Seregi ironically what he would do if he had a talking goldfish that had wishes, Sergei says “If he ever found a talking goldfish he wouldn’t ask of it a single thing.” This highlights his true character, being a selfless person instead of the stereotype, being this big mean buff Russian man. The theme of alienation and the use of fantastical elements to convey ordinary events also appear in "The Metamorphosis". The magical realism is portrayed when one day Gregor wakes up and is turned into a cockroach. The magical element is the transformation of Gregor, the main character, this highlights the withdrawal of social interaction and alienation. “The unknown nourishment he yearned