This novel presents several striking leitmotifs (frequently repeated phrase, image, symbol, or situation in a literary work which supports the theme). Leitmotifs in One Hundred Years of Solitude include cyclical patterns, prophecy, illegitimacy, fantasy, and of course solitude. Consider one or more of the following:
1. What patterns of behavior are emerging among the characters and how are these recurring patterns affecting life in Macondo?
2.) What events in Macondo, if any, have been prophesied with precision or at least seem likely to come true?
3.) List the many ways fantasy plays a part in the characters' lives. Are these elements of fantasy every ironic?
This is in response to the 3rd prompt. In 100 years of solitude Remedios the Beauty is described to be so innocent and so beautiful, she is described in some ways to resemble the virgin mary. This description is ironic because Remedios is responsible for the death of at least 4 men, and then she disapears into the sky. Remedios being so beautiful is full of fantasy and this affected all the men in macando especially the four she was indirectly the cause of their demise.
ReplyDeleteOk prompt number 1. I figured out that all of the characters, at one point or another, go through a phase of solitude. This is very fitting since the title of the book is "One Hundred Years of Solitude". For example, when Jose Arcadio dies, Rebeca locks herself up in a room by herself. Jose Arcadio Buendia gets himself tied to a tree and apparently has to live around 50 years by himself at that tree. Even Aureliano Segundo spends a lot of his time in that one room with Melquides as opposed to spending time with other children outside. Then obviously there's Colonel Aureliano Buendia who spends a lot of his time by himself in his workshop making little fish
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nick, I was thinking the same thing; mainly when she ascended body and soul into heaven. The Virgin Mary, just like Remedios the Beauty,was a virgin. Another thing to add to this is the fact that Mary similarly had the power of God with her. Mary was picked by God and He protected her and Joseph from pretty much anything. It was said in the book that people thought that Remedios had some divine control over death. In this way, both Mary and Remedios have some divine power in their lives. By the way, this is Allison if anyone ever cares to comment.
ReplyDeletePrompt number 1, I see alot of husbands not being loyal to their wives. For instance Aureiliano Segundo is married to Fernanda but is always sleeping in Petra Cotes bed. I feel in this book there is alot of behavior like that. People cannot stay loyal to their own spouses. Or if they cannot get the girl they want they go a little crazy and die over the situation. For instance many men died while trying to love Remedios the Beauty. I think that behavior is going a little overboard.
ReplyDeletePrompt 1: The women of Macondo are really pretty and men die for them, this recurs a lot. If this is reality, why is it that the women do not feel so guilty because they are the reason and the person to blame for the death of these men. And if I was a male character of Macondo, Why would I risk my life for these women if they do not want to be with me? How is risking my life benefiting others? I understand that there is a lot of heart break in this story but it is not worth risking lives for another person of the opposite sex.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Nick, Remedios the Beauty is stated in the book like the virgin Mary. I don't think she can ascend into heaven. She seems really innocent and wouldn't seem like the person to blame for the death of 4 men. Another impossible thing is when the priest levitated in the air all because he drank chocolate. This book is full of fantasies.
ReplyDeletePrompt 3: There seems to be a couple different times when there is fantasy. When the priest eats chocolate before the wedding, he levitates. Also, when Remedios the Beauty is folding sheets with the other women of Macondo, she ascends into to heaven. These scenarios are ironic because the whole book kind of has to do with the Bible. So when the two of them ascend into heaven, that is just like Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tay! A lot of the husbands in Macondo are not loyal. I think its ridiculous when Aureliano Segundo is always with Petra Cotes when he is married to Fernanda. Also, there are a lot of instances when the men die because of the women. Most of the men died who fell in love with Remedios the Beauty.
ReplyDeletePrompt 1: I think a recurring pattern would be that all the characters in the family like to sleep around and be whores. Apparently they can't keep their hands to themselves. They also have this weird fetish of sleeping with their family members. This effects Macondo because it always ends messy. The family is always torn apart because of the stupid choices they all make and causes misfortune for the whole community.
ReplyDeletePrompt 3:
ReplyDeleteThere are man examples of fantasy in this book. Remedios the Beauty is described to be very perfect and beautiful almost like the virgin mary. The ironic part about this is 4 men die because of her and this could be the evil part of her. She then proceeds to ascends into heaven which shows the fantasy aspect of this book.
I agree with Hailey's post, i find it very weird that this big family enjoys having sex with other family members. One of the prime examples of someone who does a lot of this is Pilar.
ReplyDeletePrompt 2: One of the things that was prophesied was when Ursula said Jose Arcadio would be a pope and he was. Also, Ursula says that all of the Jose Arcadios end up with the same qualities and all of the Aurelianos have the same qualities, so when they name their child one of those names they are bound to be like the rest of the previous generations. They prophesied Rebeca coming to Macondo as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Becca. Alot of things that happen in this book resemble the bible. When Remedios the Beauty ascends to heaven that is like Jesus ascending into heaven. Or when the priest levitates, it could resemble miracles just like how there were plenty of miracles in Jesus' time.
ReplyDeleteIn response to prompt 3 there are many ways that fantasy plays a role in character's lives in the book. For example, Remedios because in the book she's described as a characte that is beautful and they make her sound all innocent, but yet it's ironic that she's responsible for four men's deaths. Why would they describe her almost to the point that they're trying to compare her to the virgin mary when yet Remedios has this other dark side to her their not fully explaining.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jimmy. It's ironic that their comparing these sinful people to the virgin Mary and Jesus as their ascending into heaven. I don't get why they would compare people like Remedios to Mary when Mary is literally perfect and Remedios is responsible for people dying. Their just telling people in the book that those things are almost normal and acceptable since they're ascending into heaven like Jesus did.
ReplyDeletei agree with allison, the author obviously wanted us to see that all the characters went through a time of being in solitude or else he wouldnt have name the book what it is named. I also think that the author may be alluding to real life, everyone experiences solitude at one time or another.
ReplyDelete2. I feel this too be more of minor events , but the placement of numerous inventions seems to like come like "BAM" New inventions galore. and then everything just kinda Stops. We go on for quite awhile reading through the book, and no inventions come back around, they were there and now they've been whisked away by the wind. No traces left, to have them start coming back at a headlong rush then to soften back. Each time these events have occurred it causes a big excitement in all the people of Macondo, and yet it all becomes nothing to them, even though they may have had major problems come from them being brought in from this time. I merely feel in general, inventions are the events of this world and book, hidden deceptively but always present and having an affect whether positive or negative on the people of Macondo.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jessica. The people in this book such as Remedios the Beauty have show a completely different side to themselves that the people of Macondo and visitors fail to ever notice. They have a twilight of their soul or an alter-ego that gets away with so many things and feeds on the person's freedom and abundance, though no one sees it hidden in their actions.
ReplyDelete3: I think that there are many fantasies in this book. For example, the continuous rain for 3 years straight. That is not likely to happen. Also with Remedios, She ascended into Heaven and that can not happen. Its not possible.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tay, people sleep around way to much even when they are married. That is not being loyal to your spouse. I also agree with Jessi people have hidden sides such as Remedios. They have a different side to themselves that they never show.
ReplyDeletei see love as a tragedy in thiis book. with pietro crespi who kills himself because his love will not love him back. also for Meme and mauricio b. they are madly in love and fernanda does not approve and posts gurads outside and shoots Muaricio and handicapps him for life
ReplyDeletei agree with jimmy in how remedios the beauty is like the virgin mary
ReplyDeleteI agree with jimmy. The family having having sex with each other is weird, and it is weird that characters like remedios are compared with holy figures like the virgin mary, even though they themselves are very sinful
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: Family members sleeping with one another is a reocurring problem in macondo. It causes drama and anger throughout the town. It makes every situation a little more messier, but it keeps the population in macondo very high
ReplyDeletei agree with everyone about the sinfulness of the people. they are compared to holy figures but they don't act like it. nothing is as what it seems to be.
ReplyDelete#3. sometimes i have trouble telling fantasy apart from reality in this book. it seems like remedios the beauty represents a bridge between fantasy and reality. she seems to have unrealistic power over men, but is described as being a real person.
ReplyDelete