2. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" Magic realism is a writing style in which mythical elements are
put into a realistic story but it does not break the narrative flow; rather it helps a reader get a deeper
understanding of the reality. Often time's Latin–American writers utilize this writing technique. It
has been speculated by many critics that magic realism appears most often in the literature of
countries with long histories of both mythological stories and social turmoil, such as those in Central
and South America. Like many Latin–American writers, Gabriel Garcia Marquez used this approach
of magic realism, in his book "One Hundred Years of Solitude", in which he reveals the history of
Macondo through the seven generations of the...show more content...
In fact, Aureliano, their son was the "first human being to be born in Macondo" (Marquez,14).
Ursula and Jose Arcadio Buendia were relieved when their two sons and later daughter Amaranta
were born with no genetic defects. Since all three were products of incest, thus, they ran the risk of
being born with the dreaded "pig tail".
The village of Macondo is described to be small and lacking names because everything was new.
The small village was secluded from the outside world that was until Ursula Iguaran discovers a
route that connects Macondo to civilization, thereafter the village begins to change. For instance,
soon after its establishment, Jose Arcadio Buendia becomes obsessed with making new discoveries
and progressing that he isolates himself from everyone. Jose Arcadio Buendia soon after became
convinced that the days were being repeated and sobbed that "the time machine [had] [been]
broken"(78). Shortly followed, his family was forced to tie him to a chestnut tree because they
thought he has gone mad. Thus, here we see the beginning of solitude cycle for Jose Arcadio
Buendia spent the rest of his days alone, tied to that tree.
The story then shifts to politics as Aureliano, gets involved with the Liberal party and begins to fight
against the Conservative party, the country's government. Thereafter, Aureliano becomes known as
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3. 100 Years of Solitude Analysis Essay
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is an author well known for his use of magical realism. Magic realism is
incorporating magical elements in realistic settings or scenarios in a text. In One Hundred Years
of Solitude, I believe magic realism serves to drive the themes and messages towards the intended
audience. Given the context of the magic realism, and how it is used is effective in Latin
countries and essentially changes how the reader perceives or interprets the story. Gabriel Garcia
Marquez by using magic realism creates a story where the reader can essentially easily perceive the
reality he has made, to figure out the social commentary he has on the role of imperialism and war
on a country in correlation to fate.
The setting of the story is...show more content...
The main character, the father Jose Arcadion Buendia denies the concept of a magnet grounded
in faith as many of the other villagers proclaim. This theme of proving whether or not god exists
plays a more crucial role later in the story. Melquides returns again "recovered, unwrinkled, with a
new and flashing set of teeth" (8), where it was described that not only did he loses his teeth but
he was on the verge of death. In the setting of the story, acts such as the revival of Melquides are
percieved genuine and true, leading the reader to note that there is always a sense of uncertainty
and room towards multiple interpretations. This is done in many ways, such as when Jose Arcadia
Buendia seeing apparitions of Prudencio Aguilar, a man he killed by impaling a spear through
his throat. The apparition coaxes Jose Arcadio Buendai to proclaim, "We're going to leave this
town, just as far away as we can go, and we'll never come back. Go in peace now" (23). This
incident to the reader is ambiguous due to its nature. The reader can interpret it as the guilty
conscience of Buendia haunting him to repent his actions, or an otherworldly force guiding Buendia
to his fate. Gabriel Garcia Marquez intended magic realism in One Hundred Years of Solitudeto be
similar to how it was used in A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. Both stories incorporate weird
and unusual occurrences, such as crab infestations or a
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4. Solitude Essay
"No man is an island." This famous quotation explains the nature of man as a social being. It is
truly a fact that human beings cannot exist in isolation. They need to be interdependent with each
other in order to survive. This interdependence is needed because a human being alone will not be
able to fill his own social needs, and his material necessities came from other people as well. All
acts of society such as sex, love, and dependence are essential for the survival of any species.
Interaction and socialization is the only way to prevent people from isolation, from solitude.
The last words in One Hundred Years of Solitudeare: races condemned to one hundred years of
solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth. These words...show more content...
To be alone, forgotten, and to remain in solitude is their fate and destiny.
Geographical Solitude. One form of solitude is shown geographically. Jose Arcadio Buendia
shouts, "God damn it! Macondo is surrounded by water in all sides." This shows that the even the
setting of the novel is in isolation. This detail may seem to be unimportant, but this reflects the
situation that the characters in Macondo are in. Being geographically isolated, the people in
Macondo will never learn anything more than what are in their reach. Because of this
consequence, their society will never be able to progress beyond their resources. When Jose
Arcadio Buendia and his men found out that Macondo is surrounded by water in all sides, Jose
Arcadio Buendia laments to his wife, "We'll never get anywhere. We're going to rot our lives
away here without receiving the benefit of science." Interaction with other societies would have
let them advance beyond their present condition. The very reason why Jose Arcadio Buendia and
his other friends take the expedition is to find a place where they will be able to know more about
the great things and inventions, and to open a way that would put Macondo in contact with these
great inventions. This idea is inspired by the new inventions that the gypsies display in Macondo.
The effort to find other places where Macondo will be able to be in contact with other towns is also
an effort by the people to release themselves from solitude, and to put an end to
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