Magic realism, a term first introduced by Alejo Carpentier, is a unique Latin American literary style that merges reality with fantasy, blending myth with truth. Featuring elements like ghosts, magical gypsies, showers of flowers, insatiable ants, and extraordinary events, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a classic representation of this genre. Gabriel Garcia Marquez has remarked that this style arises naturally from a culture with a deep and varied heritage. In a conversation with Playboy, he explained:

The Latin American setting is undoubtedly marvelous, particularly the Caribbean. Growing up in such an environment offers incredible sources of inspiration for poetry. Furthermore, in the Caribbean, we are inclined to believe in anything, shaped by the fusion of [Indian, pirate, African, and European] influences, interwoven with Catholicism and our indigenous beliefs. I believe this openness allows us to see beyond the surface of reality.