Thirteenth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

The representation of food in literature has a long and rich history and has been the subject of extensive critical inquiry. Toni Morrison and Gabriel Garcia Marquez stand as prominent figures who have explored food as a central metaphor, symbol, and plot device, illuminating complex human experiences and social realities in their respective works. This paper focuses on the theme of food in the literature of Morrison and Garcia Marquez, drawing attention to the role of food in their respective works. Through a comparative analysis of their literary depictions of food, this study examines how Morrison and Garcia Marquez use food to represent cultural values, social practices, and human experience. Selected novels, including Morrison’s Beloved and Garcia Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, are analyzed in depth, highlighting the nuances of food representation in their works. Specifically, the paper explores themes such as using food as a symbol of memory and the past and its power to evoke sensory experiences and emotions. The analysis reveals that food is an integral part of the storytelling in the works of Morrison and Garcia Marquez. Food is employed not only as a metaphor but as a means of evoking nostalgia, resistance, and tradition. Through their masterful use of food imagery, Morrison and Garcia Marquez invite readers to explore the human experience in new and illuminating ways. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the ongoing discourse on the potential to inform discussions on food systems and cultural practices.