The Magical Legalism of Marcel Aymé: Charming Rogues and the Suspension of Physical, Natural, and Positive Law

Les Cahiers de Droit, Vol. 53, No. 3, Sept. 2012, pp. 649-65

21 Pages Posted: 17 Sep 2012

See all articles by Jeffrey Miller

Jeffrey Miller

McGill University (Law-2014); Western Univ. (Law-2009-12); Law and Justice Research Centre

Date Written: September 17, 2012

Abstract

Some of Marcel Aymé’s most delightful work concerns charming rogues, protagonists who lack the heroism of moral outlaws such as Robin Hood or the golem of Jewish literature but act outside the rule of law in a way that is psychologically if not always morally coherent. On other “law and literature” occasions, Aymé employs what is sometimes called fantasy, but has the sardonic bite of magical realism – what this analysis considers “magical legalism,” where individuals circumvent physical, natural, and positive law in attempts to achieve pure self-expression or egocentric notions of justice.

Keywords: law, literature, Marcel Ayme, magical realism

Suggested Citation

Miller, Jeffrey, The Magical Legalism of Marcel Aymé: Charming Rogues and the Suspension of Physical, Natural, and Positive Law (September 17, 2012). Les Cahiers de Droit, Vol. 53, No. 3, Sept. 2012, pp. 649-65, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2147882

Jeffrey Miller (Contact Author)

McGill University (Law-2014); Western Univ. (Law-2009-12) ( email )

3644 Peel Street
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1W9
Canada

Law and Justice Research Centre ( email )

Toronto, Ontario
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://jeffreymiller.ca

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