The Story of the Stone -- Revised

Why is magic a significant part of many pieces of ancient literature?

Throughout the many ancient literature pieces I have read through World Literature I & II, magic has been a significant part in many of the stories such as Monkey and A Thousand and One Nights, and The Story of the Stone is no exception. This story demonstrates magic when the stone "having undergone the melting and moulding of a goddess, possessed magic powers" (149). I believe magic is a common practice in much of ancient literature because it allows the readers to escape from reality and use their imagination. An example of magic in The Story of the Stone is when the stone is able to talk and can change himself in size and to any color he prefers. This may help the many ancient readers who were reading this at the time to escape themselves from their daily problems and stress. Magic in literature also allows for readers to explore worlds that are unseen in their everyday lives. Readers are able to use their imagination and see things such as a Monkey who can disguise himself into other beings. These are several reasons why I believe that magic was included in many of the stories during the ancient times. It wasn't just to entertain, it was to allow for an escape.