CHPTS 7 & 8Active Reading

Chapter 8



Summary:

Aureliano José Buendía and Pilar begin grow too old. He begins to obsess over his aunt. They begin to sleep naked, but they never have sex. When they almost get caught kissing the relationship is ended and Aureliano Jose enlists. Colonel Buendía sees the peace agreement between the Liberals and the Conservatives as an unholy agreement. The Colonel denounces the agreement and he and his son leave the country. Macondo goes into a state of peace under the new mayor José Raquél Moncada.

Aureliano José leaves army and comes home, hoping to marry his aunt. The situation is suddenly ended when Aureliano José is killed. After Aureliano José’s leaves the army, the sons of Colonel Aureliano Buendía are brought to the town. They are all named Aureliano. Aureliano comes back, in charge of an army. Colonel Aureliano Buendía refuses to carry out the death sentence on José Raquél Moncada.


Characters

Colonel Aureliano Buendía – Transformed even more by the war fighting, loyalty, and betrayal encompass him. However he is shown in a more human like light when he refuses to kill the mayor.

Aureliano José Buendía – A strange just like many in his family as he obsesses over his aunt.

Quotes

”You’re a man now” – Amaranta p.141

“Cowards. I only wish it was Colonel Aureliano Buendia” Captain? p.153


Themes

Cause and Effect: Incest

Incestuous thought from Aureliano Jose towards Aureliano help drive this section. No matter how much she rejects him he keeps coming back. Although his murder is said to have been done through an act of civil disobedience this may have been the cause. Even the Colonel came from and incestuous relationship.


Magical Element

All of Colonel Buendia’s bastard children coming to Macondo and being baptized are unreal. They are all given the same name which is also outlandish.




Chapter 7


Summary

Colonel Aureliano Buendía and Colonel Gerineldo Márquez are captured after the liberals lost the war. He wanted his death sentence to be done in his hometown. José Arcadio saves the day at the last minute. Colonel Buendía launches a counter-attack, one of many more to come. An assassination attempt leaves him mentally unstable and realizes that there is more to fight for than just fighting. He begins to write poems again as he did when he was trying to get Remedios to marry him

During the war, Santa Sofia de la Piedad has twins by the late Arcadio. They are named José Arcadio and Aureliano Segundo. José Arcadio dies soon dies and the cause is not known. Rebeca is so stressed she soon lives her life in solitude. Colonel Gerineldo Márquez is left in command of the town and is in love with Amaranta. She says no in the same manner she did to the dancing Italian. After years of being tied to a tree, José Arcadio Buendía dies. It rains yellow flowers to show that he has died.


Characters

Colonel Aureliano Buendía – Shows remorse for his war actions and a longing for home as he asks for it to be done in Macondo.

José Arcadio - He has matured since the last time we have seen him he shows this by saving the day.

Quotes

”Let’s pray to God for his enemies to show him clemency” – Ursula p.121

“I don’t know how the miracle took place, but he’s alive and we’re going to see him very soon.”


Themes

Family

A major theme in this chapter is family. It is shown throughout the whole chapter by the majority of the characters. Jose Arcadio saving his brother. Colonel Buendia begins to write again as he did when he courted Remedios. Arcadio’s twins are born.


Magical Element

The idea of Jose Arcadio Buendia living tied to a tree is magic in itself, but the shower of yellow flowers is the icing on the cake for this section.