Monday, March 26, 2007
Reflective Journal Post #3
THE LAST ONE ITS ALMOST OVER. SO IM GOING TO WRITE THIS ONE IN ALL CAPS TO REPRESENT HOW HAPPY I AM.THE BOOK GOT MORE INTERESTING AS IT WENT ON BUT IT STILL WAS A WASTE OF MY AND MY FELLOW SENIORS TIME. IT WAS STUPID AND CYCLICAL. IT ENDED ALMOST HOW IT STARTED. THE END WAS TO PREDICTABLE AND THE ANSWERS WERE SITTING RIGHT THERE IN FRONT OF THEM IN THE FORM OF THE PHROPHECIES FROM THE GYPSY. WHO CARES NOW ITS OVER JUST GOT TWO MORE STEPS AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE YEAR. EXCUSE ANY SPELLING ERRORS. AND WE OUT....
CHPTS 16 & 20Active Reading
Chapter 16
Summary
Rain begins the night of the slaughter and doesn’t end for almost five years. Aureliano Segundo is trapped by the rain and eases into a state of peace and tranquility. Segundo starts to take care of the children, Amaranta Úrsula and Aureliano (II). Ursula has grown older and more senile and is there to entertain the children and pass on their heritage. The rain breaks down the house and crumbles Aureliano Segundo’s dream to nothing. All the animals that were bred with Petra died in the flood. Fernanda tries to find the telepathic doctors, who try to cure her of the disease of the uterus. In her spare time she starts torturing her husband which causes him to break everything. He turns around and starts to search for the gold coins she has hidden. When the rain ends, Macondo has taken steps back in time because the banana plantations were destroyed.
Characters
Aureliano Segundo – Responsible when taking care of his kids
Quotes
”Good-bye Gerineldo, my son, Say hello to my people and tell them I’ll see them when it stops raining.” – Fernanda p.299
“And what do you want me to do about it.” Aureliano Segundo p.322
Themes
The Decline
Although the rain ends in this chapter the city and the people are in a decline. The Buendia house is falling apart and the fortune is reduced to poverty like level.
Magical Element
The rain continues for five years and reduces the house to almost nothing. The telepathic doctors that try to cure Fernanda’s disease of the uterus.
Chapter 17
Summary
Úrsula gets out of bed to bring the house back to prosperity. She finds José Arcadio Segundo still trying to decode the prophecies of Melquíades. Aureliano Segundo goes back to Petra Cotes they fight to make ends meat. Aureliano Segundo begins to spend less time with the children. Úrsula in her senile state goes in and out reality living in her past and soon dies at about 120 years old. Rebeca also dies around this time.
Hell like heat wave appears in the town and the people think they are plagued. Birds die a strange creature known as the Wandering Jew, is found in the streets. The town moral is descending and they to resort to living in their past. Aureliano Segundo begins to raise money to send Amaranta Úrsula to Europe to go to school. José Arcadio Segundo final makes progress in breaking Melquíades’ ciphers. Aureliano Segundo is finally able to send Amaranta Úrsula to get educated. Now that his last job is done, he and his twin brother José Arcadio Segundo, die. José Arcadio Segundo last words to Aureliano (II) are to never forget about the massacre of the workers. In burial, Aureliano Segundo and José Arcadio Segundo’s caskets are mixed up, and they are buried in the other’s grave.
Characters
Ursula – Once a mother always a mother, she is still trying to take care of the house hold
José Arcadio Segundo – Still tries to break the prophecies of the gypsy
Aureliano Segundo – His last act is a great one leaving him as one of he great patriarchs in his family
Quotes
”Lord save us! So much trouble teaching you good manners and you end up living like a pig” – Ursula p.299
“The Poor great-great grandmother, she died of old age.” Amaranta Ursula p.341
Themes
Plague
The town is plagued with the hellish heat wave and the death of more important characters in the story.
Magical Element
The animals are dead and the plantations have been destroyed by the rain that lasted for so long. Úrsula living to be more than 120 years old in this time period is odd. The hell like heat wave that descends on the town and the way the Segundo brothers die simultaneously are all strange
Chapter 18
Summary
Aureliano (II) stays in Melquíades’s old lab, and is sometimes visited by the ghost Melquíades. The gypsy gives hints and clues, eventually helping him break the prophecies. The prophecies were penned in Sanskrit and they will be decoded when they reach the century mark. Santa Sofía de la Piedad, walks away from the family and we aren’t sure of where to. Fernanda soon dies left with her memories of the past.
José Arcadio (II) returns to Macondo after his mother’s death. He hasn’t been studying in a seminary but waiting to inherit a large some of money and land. He discovers the gold that Úrsula hid under her bed; he begins to share it with the teenagers of the town. He becomes friends with Aureliano (II). The two Buendia’s are visited by the last living son of Colonel Buendía. The son, however, is shot down in front the house. The new found friendship between Aureliano (II) and José Arcadio (II) is shot down when four children kill him during a bath and steal the gold.
Characters
Aureliano (II) – He too studies the prophecies showing signs of his strong heritage
José Arcadio (II) – He is a liar and a conniver, this is shown through his deceitful actions
Quotes
”Sanskrit” – Aureliano p.356
“So, you’re the bastard.” José Arcadio p.365
Themes
The Future
The future is touched upon in this when the ghost of the gypsy appears. He gives hints to decoding his scrolls and this tells the readers the truth will come out and eventually set them free after the hundred years is up
Magical Element
Melquíades’s ghost visits Aureliano to help him decipher the prophecies. Santa Sofía de la Piedad walks out on the family in mysterious trance like way never to be seen again.
Chapter 19
Summary
Amaranta Úrsula returns home from Europe bringing back her husband, Gaston. As Aureliano (II) wanders through the desolate town and realizes that almost remembers the most famous family in the town. Aureliano (II) falls in love with Amaranta Úrsula continuing the trend of incest in the family. He becomes friends with a bookseller and for known scholars he meets in there. They search through the seedy dark parts of town, going to brothels and bars. In one brothel, Aureliano (II) is meets the aged Pillar Ternera. She offers him knowledge and wisdoms. He brings back a black prostitute named Nigromanta. Gaston dreams of starting an airmail service in the area. Aureliano (II) tells Amaranta Úrsula about his love for her. Soon she gives in and they start “kicking it”.
CharactersAureliano (II) – Falls for his aunt, it’s the same story repeated over again.
Amaranta Úrsula – Has an affair with her nephew…
Quotes
”Good Lord, it’s obvious that there’s no woman in this house!” – Amaranta Ursula p.377
“The You can tell me later, I forgot that today’s the day to put quicklime on the anthills.” Amaranta Ursula p.392
Themes
Dreams
Peoples dreams and ideas are important in this chapter. Amaranta Úrsula returns home and has dreams of turning the town around and bringing it back to prosperity. Aureliano (II) dreams of relations with his aunt.
Magical Element
The decline in Macondo is magical because it seems as if the town is personified and giving the characteristics of those in the Buendia family. The town is going downhill.
Chapter 20
Summary
Gaston travels to Belgium and when he hears of his wife’s infidelities he chooses not to return. The affair between Aureliano (II) and Amaranta Úrsula continues uninterrupted. The household falls into a state of emergency. It’s being vandalized by the couple’s eccentric “sexy time” and by the abundance of red ants that are everywhere. In family’s life recycled, Ursula’s old fears about incest, the when lovers’ have a baby, whose named Aureliano (III). He is born with a pig’s tail. Amaranta Úrsula bleeds to death after giving birth. Aureliano (II) looks for comfort in the hooker, Nigromanta, and in booze. He forgets about baby and when he finds the body ants are eating it. He sees that the line of the Buendia’s has come to an end and secludes him in the house. He’s finally able to decoder Melquíades’ old prophetic readings. They describe history of the Buendía family, from the time of the beginning to the end. While he reads he notices it describes his life to the mark. As he reads a Macondo ending wind swirls destroying the town, erasing it from history.
Characters
Gaston – Wises up and doesn’t chase after Amaranta Ursula
Aureliano (II) and Amaranta Úrsula – Their love making is magical and unreal like.
Quotes”
Collons, I shit on Canon Twenty-seven of the Synod of London” – Alfred p.401“
What hurts the most is all the time we wasted.” Amaranta Ursula p.405
Themes
The End
The last theme is the end which fits so well the town is destroyed, an incestuous relationship is destroyed through their own acts, and even the memories of those in the town are destroyed.
Magical Element
The Buendía house falls because of the incestuous couple’s lovemaking and by the red ants that are everywhere now. The baby of Amaranta Ursula and Aureliano (II) is born with a pig’s tail.
Summary
Rain begins the night of the slaughter and doesn’t end for almost five years. Aureliano Segundo is trapped by the rain and eases into a state of peace and tranquility. Segundo starts to take care of the children, Amaranta Úrsula and Aureliano (II). Ursula has grown older and more senile and is there to entertain the children and pass on their heritage. The rain breaks down the house and crumbles Aureliano Segundo’s dream to nothing. All the animals that were bred with Petra died in the flood. Fernanda tries to find the telepathic doctors, who try to cure her of the disease of the uterus. In her spare time she starts torturing her husband which causes him to break everything. He turns around and starts to search for the gold coins she has hidden. When the rain ends, Macondo has taken steps back in time because the banana plantations were destroyed.
Characters
Aureliano Segundo – Responsible when taking care of his kids
Quotes
”Good-bye Gerineldo, my son, Say hello to my people and tell them I’ll see them when it stops raining.” – Fernanda p.299
“And what do you want me to do about it.” Aureliano Segundo p.322
Themes
The Decline
Although the rain ends in this chapter the city and the people are in a decline. The Buendia house is falling apart and the fortune is reduced to poverty like level.
Magical Element
The rain continues for five years and reduces the house to almost nothing. The telepathic doctors that try to cure Fernanda’s disease of the uterus.
Chapter 17
Summary
Úrsula gets out of bed to bring the house back to prosperity. She finds José Arcadio Segundo still trying to decode the prophecies of Melquíades. Aureliano Segundo goes back to Petra Cotes they fight to make ends meat. Aureliano Segundo begins to spend less time with the children. Úrsula in her senile state goes in and out reality living in her past and soon dies at about 120 years old. Rebeca also dies around this time.
Hell like heat wave appears in the town and the people think they are plagued. Birds die a strange creature known as the Wandering Jew, is found in the streets. The town moral is descending and they to resort to living in their past. Aureliano Segundo begins to raise money to send Amaranta Úrsula to Europe to go to school. José Arcadio Segundo final makes progress in breaking Melquíades’ ciphers. Aureliano Segundo is finally able to send Amaranta Úrsula to get educated. Now that his last job is done, he and his twin brother José Arcadio Segundo, die. José Arcadio Segundo last words to Aureliano (II) are to never forget about the massacre of the workers. In burial, Aureliano Segundo and José Arcadio Segundo’s caskets are mixed up, and they are buried in the other’s grave.
Characters
Ursula – Once a mother always a mother, she is still trying to take care of the house hold
José Arcadio Segundo – Still tries to break the prophecies of the gypsy
Aureliano Segundo – His last act is a great one leaving him as one of he great patriarchs in his family
Quotes
”Lord save us! So much trouble teaching you good manners and you end up living like a pig” – Ursula p.299
“The Poor great-great grandmother, she died of old age.” Amaranta Ursula p.341
Themes
Plague
The town is plagued with the hellish heat wave and the death of more important characters in the story.
Magical Element
The animals are dead and the plantations have been destroyed by the rain that lasted for so long. Úrsula living to be more than 120 years old in this time period is odd. The hell like heat wave that descends on the town and the way the Segundo brothers die simultaneously are all strange
Chapter 18
Summary
Aureliano (II) stays in Melquíades’s old lab, and is sometimes visited by the ghost Melquíades. The gypsy gives hints and clues, eventually helping him break the prophecies. The prophecies were penned in Sanskrit and they will be decoded when they reach the century mark. Santa Sofía de la Piedad, walks away from the family and we aren’t sure of where to. Fernanda soon dies left with her memories of the past.
José Arcadio (II) returns to Macondo after his mother’s death. He hasn’t been studying in a seminary but waiting to inherit a large some of money and land. He discovers the gold that Úrsula hid under her bed; he begins to share it with the teenagers of the town. He becomes friends with Aureliano (II). The two Buendia’s are visited by the last living son of Colonel Buendía. The son, however, is shot down in front the house. The new found friendship between Aureliano (II) and José Arcadio (II) is shot down when four children kill him during a bath and steal the gold.
Characters
Aureliano (II) – He too studies the prophecies showing signs of his strong heritage
José Arcadio (II) – He is a liar and a conniver, this is shown through his deceitful actions
Quotes
”Sanskrit” – Aureliano p.356
“So, you’re the bastard.” José Arcadio p.365
Themes
The Future
The future is touched upon in this when the ghost of the gypsy appears. He gives hints to decoding his scrolls and this tells the readers the truth will come out and eventually set them free after the hundred years is up
Magical Element
Melquíades’s ghost visits Aureliano to help him decipher the prophecies. Santa Sofía de la Piedad walks out on the family in mysterious trance like way never to be seen again.
Chapter 19
Summary
Amaranta Úrsula returns home from Europe bringing back her husband, Gaston. As Aureliano (II) wanders through the desolate town and realizes that almost remembers the most famous family in the town. Aureliano (II) falls in love with Amaranta Úrsula continuing the trend of incest in the family. He becomes friends with a bookseller and for known scholars he meets in there. They search through the seedy dark parts of town, going to brothels and bars. In one brothel, Aureliano (II) is meets the aged Pillar Ternera. She offers him knowledge and wisdoms. He brings back a black prostitute named Nigromanta. Gaston dreams of starting an airmail service in the area. Aureliano (II) tells Amaranta Úrsula about his love for her. Soon she gives in and they start “kicking it”.
CharactersAureliano (II) – Falls for his aunt, it’s the same story repeated over again.
Amaranta Úrsula – Has an affair with her nephew…
Quotes
”Good Lord, it’s obvious that there’s no woman in this house!” – Amaranta Ursula p.377
“The You can tell me later, I forgot that today’s the day to put quicklime on the anthills.” Amaranta Ursula p.392
Themes
Dreams
Peoples dreams and ideas are important in this chapter. Amaranta Úrsula returns home and has dreams of turning the town around and bringing it back to prosperity. Aureliano (II) dreams of relations with his aunt.
Magical Element
The decline in Macondo is magical because it seems as if the town is personified and giving the characteristics of those in the Buendia family. The town is going downhill.
Chapter 20
Summary
Gaston travels to Belgium and when he hears of his wife’s infidelities he chooses not to return. The affair between Aureliano (II) and Amaranta Úrsula continues uninterrupted. The household falls into a state of emergency. It’s being vandalized by the couple’s eccentric “sexy time” and by the abundance of red ants that are everywhere. In family’s life recycled, Ursula’s old fears about incest, the when lovers’ have a baby, whose named Aureliano (III). He is born with a pig’s tail. Amaranta Úrsula bleeds to death after giving birth. Aureliano (II) looks for comfort in the hooker, Nigromanta, and in booze. He forgets about baby and when he finds the body ants are eating it. He sees that the line of the Buendia’s has come to an end and secludes him in the house. He’s finally able to decoder Melquíades’ old prophetic readings. They describe history of the Buendía family, from the time of the beginning to the end. While he reads he notices it describes his life to the mark. As he reads a Macondo ending wind swirls destroying the town, erasing it from history.
Characters
Gaston – Wises up and doesn’t chase after Amaranta Ursula
Aureliano (II) and Amaranta Úrsula – Their love making is magical and unreal like.
Quotes”
Collons, I shit on Canon Twenty-seven of the Synod of London” – Alfred p.401“
What hurts the most is all the time we wasted.” Amaranta Ursula p.405
Themes
The End
The last theme is the end which fits so well the town is destroyed, an incestuous relationship is destroyed through their own acts, and even the memories of those in the town are destroyed.
Magical Element
The Buendía house falls because of the incestuous couple’s lovemaking and by the red ants that are everywhere now. The baby of Amaranta Ursula and Aureliano (II) is born with a pig’s tail.
CHPTS 11 - 15: Active Reading
Chapter 11
Summary
The chapter starts as and introduction to the life of Fernanda Del Carpio and the obsession that Aureliano Segundo has with her. He searches through her old town and eventually brings her home to marry him. Soon their personalities collide she is a prude while he is more free spirited. Aureliano Segundo still sleeps with Petra during his marriage. Later in life the not so happy couple has two children. They are Renata Remedios and José Arcadio the second. Úrsula, who is in her hundredth year, says that José the second will be pope.
The president of the Republic tries to honor Colonel Buendía with the Order of Merit around the time of the anniversary of the cease fire. All of seventeen illegitimate children arrive for the festival and Aureliano Segundo isn’t happy with them being there. Aureliano Triste discovers that Rebeca is still around living as a hermit. He and some of his other unwanted brothers decide to stay in the town and fulfill Jose Arcadio Buendia’s early vision of a city of ice. Aureliano Triste soon builds a railroad linking the city with the modern world.
Characters
Aureliano Segundo – Living like is relatives by dealing with incest
Aureliano Triste – Lives up to family drive by setting out and building the railroad
Quotes
”That’s the most obscene thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I married a sister of charity” – Aureliano Segundo p.209
“We are immensely rich and powerful. One day you will be queen.” Amaranta Ursula p.206
Themes
Repetition
One thing that stands out in this chapter is the repetition of similar events and the names of the characters in the family. The names are passed down from generation to generation as well as the personality. This is shown with the incest.
Magical Element
The thought that the sons of Colonel Buendia can build the city of ice is a little out of the ordinary. Also, the idea that the civilization is still not modern and being linked by the railroad is a little fishy and seems strange.
Chapter 12
Summary
The arrival in Macondo of foreign capitalists is troubling to the citizens. This is proven true when they set up a banana plantation in the village. Macondo is becoming more and more modern. The movies, technology, and inventions arrive in the town and make it more of a hustle and bustle place than that sleepy village. Remedios is the only one who seems not to be happy with the progression of Macondo. She is still unconcerned with love until the end of her days when she floats up to into the sky.
Colonel Aureliano Buendía begins to rethink his decision at the end of the war because the Conservatives are backing the rising of capitalism in this town. The foreigners set up their own police force, which beats citizens for almost any small offense. Colonel Buendía threatens to start another war and have his sons be his army. This idea comes to a tragic halt when someone tracks them all down and shoots then square in the ashes on their foreheads. Colonel Buendía visits Colonel Gerineldo Márquez to help him start another war against the capitalists and the conservatives, but Colonel Márquez tells him no.
Characters
Remedios– Seems to be the only that misses the “old days”
Colonel Aureliano Buendía – Rethinks his former position on the war and regresses into his old war days
Quotes
”Look at the mess we’ve got ourselves into, just because we invited a gringo to eat a banana” – Colonel Aureliano Buendia p.228
“We’re going to have to raffle you off.” Amaranta p.235
Themes
Imperialism
The Conservatives and plantation owners have basically taken over the city of Macondo. They have put in their own police and beat any citizen for the smallest offense. These sects help rise to other foreign imperialists
Magical Element
Remedios the beauty ascends into the heaven is divine and magical in itself, but also the fact that men are willing to die for her love seems farfetched.
Chapter 13
Summary
Úrsula, grown old and blind, but no one pays her any attention. Ursula’s youth like drive is based on the idea of José Arcadio II becoming the pope. Amaranta starts making her own blanket to prepare for her death. Fernanda continues to gain control in the household and tries again to dictate the residence once again. Aureliano Segundo moves out of the house and into that of Petra.
José Arcadio Segundo comes back around to speak with the Colonel. The Colonel does not answer like he wanted him to and eventually withdraws even more into solitude. Without anyway to get back to reality he starts to fall into death’s grasps.
Characters
Ursula– She is slipping more and more out of reality as the days go on
Colonel Aureliano Buendía – Goes into solitude and falls into the hands of death
Fernanda – Tries to will herself on the household. Show remnants of Arcadio when he took control during the war
Quotes”The years nowadays don’t pass the way the old ones used to” – Ursula p.243
“SHIT!” Amaranta p.251
Themes
Death
Death is not only seen but foretold in this chapter by different characters. Ursula is going blind and, at this point, seems ready to die. Amaranta makes her funeral blanket which shows she is ready to accept death. The Colonel also passes in this chapter after he accepts his solitude.
Magical ElementThe magical element is the ghost of Jose Arcadio Buendia reappearing to people.
Chapter 14
Summary
Fernanda del Carpio gives birth to her third child Amaranta Úrsula. Amaranta sees a vision of and she to begin to make her funeral blanket. After she is finished she tells the people she will die and she offers to take their letters to the deceased. She dies the dies a virgin. After Amaranta’s death, Úrsula goes to bed and won’t get up. Amaranta Úrsula visits her often and they develop a good loving relationship.
Meme begins a relationship with her father with mutual interests and a shared distaste for Fernanda. She makes some friends form America and even learns some English. Meme falls for Mauricio Babilonia. He is always followed by yellow butterflies. Fernanda finds them kissing at the movies. When she realizes that Mauricio Babilonia sneaks into the house every night to do the nasty with Meme. Fernanda puts a guard in the back. When Babilonia comes back, the guard shoots and paralyzes him for life.
Characters
Amaranta – Sees her death and she openly accepts it
Meme – Becomes more of a hormonal person with her creeping around
Fernanda – Shows herself, again, as an authoritative figure but with somewhat good intentions this time
Quotes
”Say good-bye to Fernanda, one minute of reconciliation is worth more than a whole life of friendship” – Ursula p.282
“What shocks me about you is that you always say exactly what you shouldn’t be saying” Meme p.288
Themes
Similar Women in Time
Women in this section are repeating traits from those before them. Amaranta sows her own funeral blanket. Meme shares a common distaste for Fernanda which runs deep with a lot of people.
Magical ElementThe birds that always seem to follow Mauricio Babilonia around. Amaranta willing to send the letters of the living to the dead. Ursula not being able to get out of bed.
Chapter 15
Summary
Mauricio Babilonia being paralyzed causes Meme to be mute. Meme goes to a convent, where she lives out the rest of her days. One of the nuns brings the unwanted child of Meme to the Buendía’s. Fernanda is ashamed of her actions and pretends that the child was found and gives him the name Aureliano the second.
José Arcadio Segundo is organizing the plantation workers to strike against the inhumane conditions that they work in. The government invites many of the workers for a meeting to settle their issues. The workers were double crossed, and the army surrounds them with guns and kills them all. The bodies are loaded aboard a train and thrown into the sea. José Arcadio Segundo, taken for dead, is thrown onto the train as well, but he manages to jump off the train and walk back to Macondo. There, he is horrified to discover that all memory of the massacre has been wiped out—none of the people of Macondo remember what happened, and they refuse to believe José Arcadio Segundo when he tells them. A heavy, unrelenting rain falls on the town and does not stop, destroying any physical traces of the massacre.
The dictators and their goonies continue to kill any surviving union workers and deny everything. José Arcadio Segundo is found in the Buendía household, hiding in Melquíades’ room. They do not see José Arcadio Segundo. José Arcadio Segundo becomes scared of the rest of the world, and takes siege to room. He begins to study the gypsy’s manuscripts. The more he learns the more his sanity he loses. He begins to live only for his studies and the memory of the fallen 3,000 who died in the slaughter.
Characters
Meme – Mauricio’s paralysis cause her to become a mute and move to a convent
José Arcadio Segundo – He organizes the union workers to strike this shows his maturity and similarities to other family members
Quotes
”We’ll tell them that we found him floating in the basket” – Fernanda p.299
“The dead, it must have been all the people who were at the station.” José Arcadio Segundo p.308
Themes
Power
Among other things power is seen throughout the chapter. The nun who controls the fate of Aureliano (II) and Fernanda who comes up with the lie for child all show the power they have over the weak. The government in their battle versus the workers who they annihilated after they set them up.
Magical Element
The rain the falls on the town that doesn’t stop is an example of magical elements in this section. The rain is acid like and destroys a lot of things.
Summary
The chapter starts as and introduction to the life of Fernanda Del Carpio and the obsession that Aureliano Segundo has with her. He searches through her old town and eventually brings her home to marry him. Soon their personalities collide she is a prude while he is more free spirited. Aureliano Segundo still sleeps with Petra during his marriage. Later in life the not so happy couple has two children. They are Renata Remedios and José Arcadio the second. Úrsula, who is in her hundredth year, says that José the second will be pope.
The president of the Republic tries to honor Colonel Buendía with the Order of Merit around the time of the anniversary of the cease fire. All of seventeen illegitimate children arrive for the festival and Aureliano Segundo isn’t happy with them being there. Aureliano Triste discovers that Rebeca is still around living as a hermit. He and some of his other unwanted brothers decide to stay in the town and fulfill Jose Arcadio Buendia’s early vision of a city of ice. Aureliano Triste soon builds a railroad linking the city with the modern world.
Characters
Aureliano Segundo – Living like is relatives by dealing with incest
Aureliano Triste – Lives up to family drive by setting out and building the railroad
Quotes
”That’s the most obscene thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I married a sister of charity” – Aureliano Segundo p.209
“We are immensely rich and powerful. One day you will be queen.” Amaranta Ursula p.206
Themes
Repetition
One thing that stands out in this chapter is the repetition of similar events and the names of the characters in the family. The names are passed down from generation to generation as well as the personality. This is shown with the incest.
Magical Element
The thought that the sons of Colonel Buendia can build the city of ice is a little out of the ordinary. Also, the idea that the civilization is still not modern and being linked by the railroad is a little fishy and seems strange.
Chapter 12
Summary
The arrival in Macondo of foreign capitalists is troubling to the citizens. This is proven true when they set up a banana plantation in the village. Macondo is becoming more and more modern. The movies, technology, and inventions arrive in the town and make it more of a hustle and bustle place than that sleepy village. Remedios is the only one who seems not to be happy with the progression of Macondo. She is still unconcerned with love until the end of her days when she floats up to into the sky.
Colonel Aureliano Buendía begins to rethink his decision at the end of the war because the Conservatives are backing the rising of capitalism in this town. The foreigners set up their own police force, which beats citizens for almost any small offense. Colonel Buendía threatens to start another war and have his sons be his army. This idea comes to a tragic halt when someone tracks them all down and shoots then square in the ashes on their foreheads. Colonel Buendía visits Colonel Gerineldo Márquez to help him start another war against the capitalists and the conservatives, but Colonel Márquez tells him no.
Characters
Remedios– Seems to be the only that misses the “old days”
Colonel Aureliano Buendía – Rethinks his former position on the war and regresses into his old war days
Quotes
”Look at the mess we’ve got ourselves into, just because we invited a gringo to eat a banana” – Colonel Aureliano Buendia p.228
“We’re going to have to raffle you off.” Amaranta p.235
Themes
Imperialism
The Conservatives and plantation owners have basically taken over the city of Macondo. They have put in their own police and beat any citizen for the smallest offense. These sects help rise to other foreign imperialists
Magical Element
Remedios the beauty ascends into the heaven is divine and magical in itself, but also the fact that men are willing to die for her love seems farfetched.
Chapter 13
Summary
Úrsula, grown old and blind, but no one pays her any attention. Ursula’s youth like drive is based on the idea of José Arcadio II becoming the pope. Amaranta starts making her own blanket to prepare for her death. Fernanda continues to gain control in the household and tries again to dictate the residence once again. Aureliano Segundo moves out of the house and into that of Petra.
José Arcadio Segundo comes back around to speak with the Colonel. The Colonel does not answer like he wanted him to and eventually withdraws even more into solitude. Without anyway to get back to reality he starts to fall into death’s grasps.
Characters
Ursula– She is slipping more and more out of reality as the days go on
Colonel Aureliano Buendía – Goes into solitude and falls into the hands of death
Fernanda – Tries to will herself on the household. Show remnants of Arcadio when he took control during the war
Quotes”The years nowadays don’t pass the way the old ones used to” – Ursula p.243
“SHIT!” Amaranta p.251
Themes
Death
Death is not only seen but foretold in this chapter by different characters. Ursula is going blind and, at this point, seems ready to die. Amaranta makes her funeral blanket which shows she is ready to accept death. The Colonel also passes in this chapter after he accepts his solitude.
Magical ElementThe magical element is the ghost of Jose Arcadio Buendia reappearing to people.
Chapter 14
Summary
Fernanda del Carpio gives birth to her third child Amaranta Úrsula. Amaranta sees a vision of and she to begin to make her funeral blanket. After she is finished she tells the people she will die and she offers to take their letters to the deceased. She dies the dies a virgin. After Amaranta’s death, Úrsula goes to bed and won’t get up. Amaranta Úrsula visits her often and they develop a good loving relationship.
Meme begins a relationship with her father with mutual interests and a shared distaste for Fernanda. She makes some friends form America and even learns some English. Meme falls for Mauricio Babilonia. He is always followed by yellow butterflies. Fernanda finds them kissing at the movies. When she realizes that Mauricio Babilonia sneaks into the house every night to do the nasty with Meme. Fernanda puts a guard in the back. When Babilonia comes back, the guard shoots and paralyzes him for life.
Characters
Amaranta – Sees her death and she openly accepts it
Meme – Becomes more of a hormonal person with her creeping around
Fernanda – Shows herself, again, as an authoritative figure but with somewhat good intentions this time
Quotes
”Say good-bye to Fernanda, one minute of reconciliation is worth more than a whole life of friendship” – Ursula p.282
“What shocks me about you is that you always say exactly what you shouldn’t be saying” Meme p.288
Themes
Similar Women in Time
Women in this section are repeating traits from those before them. Amaranta sows her own funeral blanket. Meme shares a common distaste for Fernanda which runs deep with a lot of people.
Magical ElementThe birds that always seem to follow Mauricio Babilonia around. Amaranta willing to send the letters of the living to the dead. Ursula not being able to get out of bed.
Chapter 15
Summary
Mauricio Babilonia being paralyzed causes Meme to be mute. Meme goes to a convent, where she lives out the rest of her days. One of the nuns brings the unwanted child of Meme to the Buendía’s. Fernanda is ashamed of her actions and pretends that the child was found and gives him the name Aureliano the second.
José Arcadio Segundo is organizing the plantation workers to strike against the inhumane conditions that they work in. The government invites many of the workers for a meeting to settle their issues. The workers were double crossed, and the army surrounds them with guns and kills them all. The bodies are loaded aboard a train and thrown into the sea. José Arcadio Segundo, taken for dead, is thrown onto the train as well, but he manages to jump off the train and walk back to Macondo. There, he is horrified to discover that all memory of the massacre has been wiped out—none of the people of Macondo remember what happened, and they refuse to believe José Arcadio Segundo when he tells them. A heavy, unrelenting rain falls on the town and does not stop, destroying any physical traces of the massacre.
The dictators and their goonies continue to kill any surviving union workers and deny everything. José Arcadio Segundo is found in the Buendía household, hiding in Melquíades’ room. They do not see José Arcadio Segundo. José Arcadio Segundo becomes scared of the rest of the world, and takes siege to room. He begins to study the gypsy’s manuscripts. The more he learns the more his sanity he loses. He begins to live only for his studies and the memory of the fallen 3,000 who died in the slaughter.
Characters
Meme – Mauricio’s paralysis cause her to become a mute and move to a convent
José Arcadio Segundo – He organizes the union workers to strike this shows his maturity and similarities to other family members
Quotes
”We’ll tell them that we found him floating in the basket” – Fernanda p.299
“The dead, it must have been all the people who were at the station.” José Arcadio Segundo p.308
Themes
Power
Among other things power is seen throughout the chapter. The nun who controls the fate of Aureliano (II) and Fernanda who comes up with the lie for child all show the power they have over the weak. The government in their battle versus the workers who they annihilated after they set them up.
Magical Element
The rain the falls on the town that doesn’t stop is an example of magical elements in this section. The rain is acid like and destroys a lot of things.
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