The Glass Bottle Trick: Magical Realism & Race

    As we have discussed race and skin color often in this class, I naturally found connections between this short story and other works from our syllabus. However, this work in conjunction with Faris' essay on magical realism, I uncovered a new level of understanding behind the immensity of skin color and the unique relationship individuals may have with it. In Hopkinson's take on it, it is young wife Beatrice who uncovers older husband Samuel's hidden obsession for light skin color even though he is a "Black beauty" according to his wife. Although the story also touches upon other issues of identity (in particular gender and education), Samuel's distaste and hatred for dark skin is clearly the key topic of discussion.

    The motif of magical realism comes in when we reach the climax of the story as Beatrice uncovers Samuel's dead wives. Up until now, Beatrice assumed that they died in some sort of accidental tragedy, when in reality, Samuel took their lives so that they, and their unborn children, wouldn't carry on his dark skin. Although other factors in the text suggested his distaste for dark skin (like Beatrice admiring his dark complexion or her not being able to tan in the sun) and fear of white people were mentioned, it is this scene that shows the gravity this situation has on Samuel. Up until this point, we have mostly read about women trying to find their identity and hide something they are shameful of, usually from men. However, by means of magical realism mirroring the stronghold color can have on a person mentally and physically, we can see that this is an identity definer and defiler for men as well. The color of one's skin shouldn't matter, but the way that this essay is written shows that it is still a serious problem that goes beyond a realistic world of understanding.