Magic Realism as a Corrective Discourse to Counter Environmental Degradation and Violence in Easterine Kire’s Son of the Thundercloud

Abstract

Aim: This paper aims to explore the use of magic realism in Easterine Kire’s Son of the Thundercloud as a narrative strategy to blend myth, memory, and lived reality. It seeks to analyze how the author employs magical elements within a realistic setting to reimagine Naga folklore, address historical trauma, and offer a vision of healing and regeneration.

Methodology and Approaches: This paper adopts a qualitative research approach, grounded in literary textual analysis, to examine Easterine Kire’s Son of the Thundercloud through the framework of magic realism.

Outcome: This paper is expected to demonstrate how Easterine Kire employs magic realism as a powerful narrative tool to revitalize indigenous Naga myths and address themes of violence, loss, and renewal. It also highlights how Kire’s use of magic realism contributes to a unique literary voice that bridges the local with the universal, affirming the value of indigenous storytelling in contemporary literature.

Conclusion and Suggestions: The conclusion establishes how the novelist employs magic realism to expose violence in present-day Northeast. Future research could compare Son of the Thundercloud with other global magic realist texts to highlight regional variations and thematic convergences, especially with works by writers from other indigenous or postcolonial cultures. Scholars might benefit from incorporating ethnographic or anthropological perspectives to deepen the understanding of the novel’s mythic references and their cultural significance.