The Formation of the Narrator and Narrative Structure in the Novel 'Banjar Maidan'

Abstract

Juan Rulfo’s ‘Pedro Páramo’ (translated into Urdu under the title of ‘Banjar Maidan’) is a groundbreaking novel that revolutionized narrative techniques in literature, particularly through its use of magical realism. The novel employs a complex, non-linear storytelling structure, blending multiple narrators and perspectives to create a haunting, fragmented tale. The primary narrators include Juan Preciado (the son), Pedro Páramo (the father), and an omniscient, ghostly narrator who fills the gaps between their stories. Through shifting timelines, flashbacks, and auditory-visual sensory techniques, Rulfo constructs a narrative where the living and the dead coexist, and the past and present merge seamlessly. This article explores the novel’s innovative narrative formation, emphasizing its unique use of first-person and omniscient voices, dialogue-driven storytelling, and the interplay between memory and reality.