A General Theory of Magic, set 2

Voodoo dolls, a representation of magic

"However separate the different moments in the representation of a magical rite may be, they also form part of a total representation whereby cause and effect become confused. Here we have the basic idea behind magical actions, an idea involving immediate and limitless effects, the idea of direct creation."

A General Theory of Magic by Marcel Mauss, page 78

This quote is from the “Representations” part of the Mauss’s explanation of the three elements of magic; the magician, the action and the representations. Very briefly put, the magician is the performer, the action is what is performed and the representation is how magic is projected by the magician. He explained representation in multiple ways such as the effects that the magical rites have on the intended objects or people, or the “relationship between the persons and things involved in the ritual” (p. 77). It seems that it is the representations of magic that determines if the magic is “real” or not. The magician is a colorful figure who performs the actions of the rite. The power or affect of the rite depends on the representation of beings or things invoked.

Mauss attempted to give as detailed an explanation for magic as possible based on his research. He discusses different elements of magic, how magicians and their arts are perceived in their societies, and its connection with religion, nature, science and medicine. I am interested in his element of magic, representation, because it seems to be in the representation of magic that its power is visible. It involves the magical outcome and can make a person a believer.

This reminded me of Mama Day by Gloria Naylor, a wonderful novel that I read a few years ago. It is a story steeped in the magic and history of a community of descendents of ex-slaves. It takes place in both New York and in a fictional small island community called Willow Springs just off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina without being a part of either state. Miranda Day, called Mama Day by the townspeople, is the powerful leader of the community. She is the local spiritual leader, healer, and magician or witch as Mauss would have described her. She uses sympathetic magic and an extensive knowledge of alternative medicine to heal her people and to keep them safe based on rituals and knowledge passed down from their first matriarch, an African slave who had the power to free herself and her family and take over the island from the white owners. The novel also explores the value of alternative medicine in connection with the power of magic.

The two other main characters in the book is Mama Day’s great-niece, Cocoa, who grew up on the island, and her husband, George, a New Yorker. The first and only time that Cocoa brings George to the island proves to be tragic, in the sense of tragedy as Janelle Taylor describes on page 163 of her paper, “The Story Catches You and You Fall Down”. Despite the heroes acting exactly as they should, the outcome was tragic mostly due to inherent character virtues and cultural differences. George, a realistic thinker who knew only city life, was warmly accepted into his wife’s community although he could not believe in the magical beliefs of the people there. A hurricane destroyed the only bridge off the island thus not allowing Cocoa and George to return to New York when planned creating the timeframe for the tragedy to occur. A jealous townswoman, Ruby, misinterpreted Cocoa’s behavior at one point and through poison and magic cursed her and made her deathly ill. The voodoo-like magic Ruby performed used the laws of similarity to strengthen her curse. She took strands of Cocoa’s hair to bind her to the spell. With no malicious intent, Mama Day told George that only he could save Cocoa, part of which involved sacrificing a chicken, and in his valiant attempt to do so George had a massive heart attack and died. The story suggests that his sacrifice was the representation of the cure that saved Cocoa’s life. Maybe if he had been able to understand her family’s culture sooner, the tragedy could have been averted.

I found many ideas discussed in Mama Day related to the research done by Mauss. The novel spoke a lot on the representation of magic on the lives of the inhabitants of Willow Springs, a close-knit community that revered the magic of Mama Day. Supernatural power was an ordinary part of their religious, medical and daily beliefs.

For further summary of Mama Day:

http://litmed.med.nyu.edu/Annotation?action=view&annid=1176

http://www.answers.com/topic/mama-day-1

Voodoo doll image from:

http://www.zombieye.com/images/voodoo_doll_family.jpg