Wilson 1
Janelle Wilson
Class
Prof
April 27th. 2023
Myth and Metaphor in Swamplandia!
Swamplandia! is a magic realism fictional narrative that tells the story of Ava, the
narrator, her sister, Ossie, their brother, Kiwi, and their parents, who live on the west coast of
Florida at tourist attraction featuring live alligators. The attraction was famous and heavily
patronized, but after Ava’s mother dies of ovarian cancer, Swamplandia quickly becomes
insolvent and devoid of tourists. The book makes heavy use of metaphor, both literal metaphors
that are quite beautiful, as well as functioning as an extended metaphor for the tenuous line
separating life from death.
The World of Darkness is the most transparent of these metaphors, which is perhaps a
parody of Disneyland. The World of Darkness makes use of puns and references to
underworlds, demons, and monsters, with attractions and food items bearing names such as
Hellspawn Hoagies and New Lethe (Russell 178). Swamplandia, conversely, is not heaven, but
perhaps is Duchamp’s Infrathin. This is a sensitive other realm for artists and poets. It is also
similar to the Fourth World, which is referenced in the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures. In this
movie, the protagonists create an elaborate reality where they can explore their budding
sexuality, which is populated by clay figures that wear Medieval costumes. Ossie and Ava also
play imaginative games as children. They lay out blankets and pretend they are creator and
destroyer gods, and that the blankets are seas, prairies, and forests. Ossie would pretend to be
saints, princesses, and Vanna White (Russell 222).
Janelle Wilson
Class
Prof
April 27th. 2023
Myth and Metaphor in Swamplandia!
Swamplandia! is a magic realism fictional narrative that tells the story of Ava, the
narrator, her sister, Ossie, their brother, Kiwi, and their parents, who live on the west coast of
Florida at tourist attraction featuring live alligators. The attraction was famous and heavily
patronized, but after Ava’s mother dies of ovarian cancer, Swamplandia quickly becomes
insolvent and devoid of tourists. The book makes heavy use of metaphor, both literal metaphors
that are quite beautiful, as well as functioning as an extended metaphor for the tenuous line
separating life from death.
The World of Darkness is the most transparent of these metaphors, which is perhaps a
parody of Disneyland. The World of Darkness makes use of puns and references to
underworlds, demons, and monsters, with attractions and food items bearing names such as
Hellspawn Hoagies and New Lethe (Russell 178). Swamplandia, conversely, is not heaven, but
perhaps is Duchamp’s Infrathin. This is a sensitive other realm for artists and poets. It is also
similar to the Fourth World, which is referenced in the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures. In this
movie, the protagonists create an elaborate reality where they can explore their budding
sexuality, which is populated by clay figures that wear Medieval costumes. Ossie and Ava also
play imaginative games as children. They lay out blankets and pretend they are creator and
destroyer gods, and that the blankets are seas, prairies, and forests. Ossie would pretend to be
saints, princesses, and Vanna White (Russell 222).
