The Impact of Influence
Behind a facade of paper and ink, or nowadays zeros and ones, each individual piece of literature contains an invitation to explore a deeper, more insightful view of the context, setting, and viewpoint reflected in the author’s ideas. With a solid grasp of the writer’s background, a reader can better understand the intended message, shattering previously held assertions and expectations. For instance, when examining the truly unique works of a writer, like renowned Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, being aware of his rough childhood, strong political stance, and lifetime of experiences can provide meaningful clues to the inspiration and message behind his work.
Marquez’s incredible ability to delve deep into the realm of extraordinary and imaginatory is a result of his misfortunate childhood in Colombia, growing up in a poor family during a time of intense hostility, that, according to Jonathan Kandell of The New York Times, was referred to as “La Violencia.” As Kandell describes, crime and poverty were common during this time of civil war, with some 300,000 deaths between the late 40’s and early 50’s. This period of calamity has deeply manifested itself in Marquez’s stories, reflected by “Chronicle of a Death Foretold.”
Known for his polarizing stance on the topic of political discussion, Marquez’s writing reflects his fiery and radical beliefs, which he vehemently defended. In an article by New York
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Times writer Marlise Sim ons, she expands greatly upon the topic of Marquez’s political history, stating how he notoriously supported the leadership of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, and was opposed to Argentinian leader
The wisdom and experience Gabriel Garcia Marquez gained from a multitude of important experiences directly impacted his works of literature, a
A combination of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s troubled early years, radical political record, and multitude of life experiences enable him to create the unimaginable through the ideas he expresses, the reader to pull meaning from his brilliant but cryptic work. This overarching meaning, lying dormant beyond a superficial mask of face-value literary devices and definitions, stands as a testament to Marquez’s affinity for combining fiction and fact, and asserts the impact of his influences.