Magic Realism and the Representation of Trauma and Identity in Selected Novels of Monique Roffey

Abstract

This research paper examines the role of magic realism in the selected novels of Monique Roffey, focusing on the representation of trauma, identity, and postcolonial experience. Magic realism, as a literary mode, blends realistic narrative with supernatural elements and presents the extraordinary as a natural part of everyday life. This narrative technique enables writers to articulate complex psychological and cultural realities that often remain unexpressed within conventional realism (Faris, 2004). The study focuses on three major novels: The Mermaid of Black Conch, Archipelago, and The White Woman on the Green Bicycle. These texts provide a rich framework for understanding how magic realism operates within Caribbean and postcolonial contexts. Each novel presents a distinct yet interconnected exploration of trauma, identity, and displacement. This paper argues that magic realism in Roffey’s fiction is not merely decorative but deeply functional. It serves as a narrative strategy to represent emotional suffering, cultural memory, and identity transformation. In The Mermaid of Black Conch, myth and transformation foreground feminine trauma and resistance. In Archipelago, the symbolic journey across the sea reflects processes of grief and healing. In The White Woman on the Green Bicycle, fragmented memory and imagination illustrate an identity crisis and colonial displacement. Using qualitative textual analysis, supported by theoretical frameworks of Faris (2004), Bhabha (1994), and Ashcroft et al. (2002), the study demonstrates that magical elements are seamlessly integrated into realistic settings. The paper concludes that magic realism enables Roffey to challenge dominant narratives, recover marginalized voices, and provide deeper insights into postcolonial human experience.