Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The author of "One Hundred Years of Solitude"
Monday, April 11, 2011
Week #2
As we begin our second week, I expect you to dig even deeper with your exploration of Marquez's novel. We're focusing on chapters 5-7 this week. Pay particular attention to the four areas of interest we are focusing on as we read: theme, character, symbolism and/or imagery, and important quotations. Remember: you can earn extra credit by posting a third time during the course of the week.
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In chapter 5, the interesting part is about how Rebeca and Pietro Crespi Wedding turnout to be a disaster because of all the tragic incidents that happen during that time. First is the letter that had been send to Pietro about his mother death, which turnout to be fake. Second is the time when Amaranta decided to remove mothballs from Rebeca wedding dress to ruin it because of her jealously. Then later on is when the terrible thing really happen and causes the most shocking moment to everyone, that is the death of Remedios. This causes Amaranta to start to feel guilty about all the things she had done to her family and wish it not end up like that. Overall, this can proves that Amaranta still has feeling for her family and as well help showing her inner feeling to the reader about how she still love and respect Remedios because she is the only person that intervene the argument between her and Rebeca, also her family as well.
ReplyDeleteMagical realism, a form of an art that mixes the reality and the magic, is truly an ambiguous method to create disturbance in readers' minds. I am deeply surprised how Gabriel Marquez was able to synchronize magic and reality in each chapters. The book is like a conversation between the magic and the reality. By using this method of counter exchange of two different concepts, Marquez succeeds in showing the reality (the culture) through utilizing magic. In this process exaggeration is presented but it helps readers understand more about the character and culture of Latin America.
ReplyDeleteWe see defensive nature of the Latin culture in Arcadio's action. Arcadio, who was thought to be a cruel despot of Macondo, was actually a leader with dignity and loyalty to his father and the party. We can interpret this in two ways. First, He seemed to be indifferent about Macondo and his family, (hid himself under a mask) but has always been thinking about them. However, it is unlikely because Arcadio's actions to show off authority were truly wrong. Maybe he suddenly realized the importance of the place when he read the letter from Aureliano. In that case, we can interpret Arcadio's death and his last wills were to repay the wrong deeds that he has done to Macondo.
ReplyDeleteI think that the relationship between Aureliano and Remedios is more than just a sappy love story but rather a profound story with a greater purpose. Aureliano fell madly in love with Remedios, but I think it’s peculiar that she hadn't even reached puberty when they decided to get married. Even more so, she was still wetting the bed. Once she kicked the habit and finally reached puberty, Remedios and Aureliano were married. Shortly after their marriage, Remedios suddenly dies, taking everyone by surprise. Remedios’ death leaves Aureliano with a broken heart and in my opinion causes him to seclude himself. Perhaps this is because he felt as though Remedios had abandoned him when she died, leaving him unsure of whom he should turn to so he decides to confide within himself.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 6, the moment when Ursula start to feel bad about ruining Rebeca's future as well, the start of all the upset incidents to the families can be very important to the chapter. "The rigor of the mourning for Remedios had been relegated to the background by the mortifications of the war, Aureliano's absence, Arcadio's brutality, and the expulsion of Jose Arcadio and Rebeca." This passage explain how the family have been going through all this sadness of Remedios death, but that doesn't stop bad things to continue to happen to the family. The only thing that concern Ursula is that Pietro wedding date with Amaranta is still set without any changes. Later, that is when the separate between Amaranta and Pietro.
ReplyDeleteThese past few chapters Ive been extra confused about who's who because alot of the characters have the same name. This must be Gabriel Marquez's way of insinuating that history repeats itself. The characters that have the same name tend to have the same habits, curses, triumphs, and downfalls. For example, Jose Arcadio Buendia (the founder of Macondo) has great strength and curiosity. While Jose Arcadio doesnt found Macondo, he inherits Jose Arcadio Buendia's great strength and curiosity.
ReplyDeleteI think its really strange how Rebeca seems like she can never be pleased. Pietro chooses to marry Rebeca over Amaranta. When Remedios dies their wedding is postponed and that gives Jose Arcadio just enough time to return to the household and sabotage Rebeca and Peitro's wedding. Rebeca ends up falling head over heels for Jose Arcadio. They end up getting married and Ursula is enraged and kicks them out of the house because they are "brother and sister". But Rebeca is the little orphan girl that showed up on the Buedia doorstep one day carrying her parent's bones in a bag. So technically, Rebeca and Jose Arcadio aren't related at all. But it still is a little weird to me.
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