The Fictional Pact: Metafiction in Literature and Film
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1. The Narrative Pact and Reader Complicity
The narrative pact is the tacit agreement established between writer and reader—a form of complicity. The writer recounts an event that the reader likely realizes is not real or contains flaws. Yet, far from being discouraged, the reader accepts the situation, imagining and immersing themselves in it.
In "Continuity of Parks" by Julio Cortázar, a man creates the perfect atmosphere while nearing the end of an adventure. The story depicts an encounter between a man and a woman who, once finished, go their separate ways. We witness a continuity as the man (from the story) travels to the reader's house to assassinate him.
Anyone reading this story will notice the crossing between the two planes—the man who reads and the story itself—and the final description of the chair, which matches the individual at the beginning of the story.
2. Metafiction: Stories Within Stories
In the texts read ("Continuity of Parks", "Tale to Order", and the work of Paul Auster) and the film The Purple Rose of Cairo, we observe the common feature of a story told within another:
- "Continuity of Parks": The history of the man and the lovers.
- "Tale to Order": The story of the narrator—a writer and pirate.
- Paul Auster's story: The narrator—a writer and his friend at Christmas.
- The Purple Rose of Cairo: Cecilia's story and the character/history set within the film.
At some point in every story and the film, these two narratives intersect and lose differentiation. This relationship is established through the fictional pact.
3. Structure and Reality in Paul Auster
Paul Auster's story respects a traditional structure:
- Introduction: The narrator tells the story and talks about his friend.
- Problem: The friend tells a personal story, providing an idea.
- End: The narrator writes the story based on what his friend told him.
However, it does not fully adhere to this structure because there is a covenant that intertwines the fictional world with reality.