Incorporation of Myth in Magic Realism
Magic Realist writers often draw inspiration and material from all kinds of myths—ancient myths, modern myths, religious myths and all sorts of other myths. For one thing, myths are a ready source of fantastic happenings; pretty much anything can and does happen in myths.
On top of that, though, myths are also ancient, collective stories of a given people. For Latin American writers, in particular, incorporating myth into their work is one form of political critique. Political structures are temporary, but myths have survived for centuries, and they have helped form collective identities stronger than political categories and affiliations.
Chew on This
Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude recalls myth: in fact, it takes us back right to the very beginnings of time in this quote (Quote #1).
Salman Rushdie has sure read his Greek mythology. He characterizes one of his Midnight's Children, Soumitra, as a clairvoyant, like Cassandra in Greek myth. Here's the quote (Quote #2) from Midnight's Children.