"Contrary to what Kafka does, I always like to refer all of my fictions to the level of reality, He, on the other hand, leaves them at an imaginary level"

In this quote, Manuel Puig differentiates his literary technique from that of Franz Kafka. At its core, this statement reveals the philosophical and stylistic distinctions in between the two authors. Puig emphasizes his commitment to grounding his narratives in truth, recommending that he looks for to create a direct link in between his fiction and the tangible world. This option shows Puig's desire to show real-life concerns, emotions, and experiences through his storytelling, possibly using readers a mirror to their own lives or to societal conditions.

By contrasting his approach with Kafka's, Puig underscores Kafka's propensity to dwell in the realm of the surreal and the imaginary. Kafka is renowned for his expedition of the absurdities and existential anxieties of the human condition, frequently through unusual and horrible situations. Stories like "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial" are ultimate examples where Kafka creates a disorienting world that, while showing the human psyche and societal pressures, is soaked in a type of dark fantasy. His work typically goes beyond the literal and edges into allegory and metaphysics, demanding readers to engage with the symbolic and the abstract.

Puig's expression of choice for reality-based fiction over Kafka's fictional landscapes implies a belief in the power of realism to interact facts and stimulate compassion. His approach might recommend a more direct engagement with readers, motivating them to see elements of their own experiences within the story's framework. Meanwhile, Kafka's method welcomes readers to explore deeper, typically more disturbing aspects of human presence, where interpretation ends up being a more individual and reflective workout.

The quote encapsulates the more comprehensive discussion about literary styles and their impacts, highlighting the spectrum in between realism and surrealism/fantasy in literature. Eventually, Puig's declaration not only draws the line in between his work and Kafka's but also welcomes readers to think about the role of literature in showing or transcending reality.