Sunday, March 1, 2009
Reflective Reading for Chpt. 18-20
Well well, we have finally finished Gabriel Marquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. Though this is not a book to read for pleasure and it is not one of my favorites I would have to say that it is a good book and i recommend it to many. It is not a book of pleasure but of learning. I may not totally understand the entire moral of this novel, but I do have a gist of it. If we as a society isolate ourselves from the world we will surely die and do not have a chance at survival. We need to educate our self of the world so that when the time comes we will be ready. We will be ready to defend ourselves the right way and win. Also, to not repeat the same mistakes of our ancestors like so many of the Buendias have. If we do not learn from our past and history it is likely to repeat it self again. From the beginning the book the Buendia house was rich, full, strong and full of life. By the end of the book, however, the house is decomposing, everything broken, paint chipping away, so weak that even the ants and termites were taking over. I believe that this signifies that all societies are great in the beginning, but you need to care for it last. One Hundred Years of Solitude is a lesson that we all must learn if we want to survive.
Active Reading for Chpt. 18-20
Chapter 18 Summery- After the twins had died Aureliano did not leave the old room of Melquiades. After Ursula died the house became much too hard to care after. All the weeds would crawl into the kitchen, termites and ants took over soon Santa Sofia de la Piedad left. She no longer could take all of the work. With Santa Sofia de la Piedad's leaving Fernanda began to lose her mind. She believed that elves were doing tricks on her by rearranging everything. The silverware would be on the alter, the shears on her bed, her ink blotter in her pillow. she began to lose the track of time as well. Fernanda died and four months later her son Jose Arcadio came back from Rome. Now the only ones living in the Buendia house is Jose Arcadio and Aureliano. Jose Arcadio took to inviting children over to play in the house while Aureliano kept to his [Melquiades] room. Out of all the children that played at the house, the four older children developed a close relationship with Jose Arcadio. One night they found the gold from the Saint Jhoseph statue. After partying with the four older children Jose Arcadio kicked all four of the children out. Later the four children came back, murdered Jose Arcadio and made off with the gold. Aureliano Amador, the only surviving son of Colonel Aureliano Buendia was killed.
Chapter 19 Summery- Amaranta Ursula came back home along with her husband Gaston and her many luggage's. With the same determination as Ursula, Amaranta Ursula cleaned and remolded the Buendia house in about three months. She set to work on Macondo itself by trying to reestablish birds, the community and happiness. Aureliano soon fell in love with Amaranta Ursula. With the deaths of Jose Arcadio and Fernanda Aureliano began to develop a curiosity of the world around him, of Macondo. Aureliano began to take part in eating dinner with Amaranta Ursula and Gaston. One day Aureliano declared his love for Amaranta Ursula, but she rejected him. Heartbroken, Aureliano visited Pilar Ternera, she then told him the fates of all the Buendias. She told him that Amaranta Ursula is waiting for him. Aureliano returned home and made love with Amaranta Ursula.
Chapter 20 Summery- Gaston left to Brussels due to a project gone wrong. Amaranta Ursula and Aureliano continued their relationship as secret lovers. It wasn't until they heard that Gaston would be returning did they come clean with their hidden relationship, Gaston sent them his best wishes and the two lovers remained in tact. Curios of Aureliano's heritage they searched in vain for records of his heritage because they feared that they were indeed related. Amaranta Ursula gave birth to a baby boy that resembled all the male Buendias. The new born soon was born with the tail of a pigs, Amaranta Ursula died a view hours after child birth. While Aureliano was grieving he lost his son. The next day the ants ate the baby and Aureliano finally discovered the meaning of Melquiades parchments. They are the history of the entire Buendia line, predicted many years before the first Buendia was born.
Chapter 19 Summery- Amaranta Ursula came back home along with her husband Gaston and her many luggage's. With the same determination as Ursula, Amaranta Ursula cleaned and remolded the Buendia house in about three months. She set to work on Macondo itself by trying to reestablish birds, the community and happiness. Aureliano soon fell in love with Amaranta Ursula. With the deaths of Jose Arcadio and Fernanda Aureliano began to develop a curiosity of the world around him, of Macondo. Aureliano began to take part in eating dinner with Amaranta Ursula and Gaston. One day Aureliano declared his love for Amaranta Ursula, but she rejected him. Heartbroken, Aureliano visited Pilar Ternera, she then told him the fates of all the Buendias. She told him that Amaranta Ursula is waiting for him. Aureliano returned home and made love with Amaranta Ursula.
Chapter 20 Summery- Gaston left to Brussels due to a project gone wrong. Amaranta Ursula and Aureliano continued their relationship as secret lovers. It wasn't until they heard that Gaston would be returning did they come clean with their hidden relationship, Gaston sent them his best wishes and the two lovers remained in tact. Curios of Aureliano's heritage they searched in vain for records of his heritage because they feared that they were indeed related. Amaranta Ursula gave birth to a baby boy that resembled all the male Buendias. The new born soon was born with the tail of a pigs, Amaranta Ursula died a view hours after child birth. While Aureliano was grieving he lost his son. The next day the ants ate the baby and Aureliano finally discovered the meaning of Melquiades parchments. They are the history of the entire Buendia line, predicted many years before the first Buendia was born.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Reflective Reading for Chpt. 14-17
First of all I like to say the Meme reminds me of a typical teenage girl. Her strict up tight mother sends her away to school and when she comes back she falls in love with a man. Who according to Fernanda is low class. So Fernanda forbids Meme to see him, locks her up in the house and is not allowed to go anywhere. Of course as we all (teens) know that that will never work because if we really want something or someone we will manipulate our parents to get it. I mean that's what we do. Fernanda, however, takes it to far when she had Mauricio shot. What the hell are you thinking! Don't you know that your only pushing Meme away more! Sure enough Fernanda pushed Meme away so much that Meme never spoke again for the rest of her life. Of course to make matters worse she sends Meme away to school. Goodness I'd hate my mother if she ever did that to me. Not only are you taking away her one true love, but sending her half way across the world! Now that's just cruelty. Poor Meme. I feel your pain girl!
Now here we have Aureliano Segundo who is jumping from Fernanda to Peitra. Make up your mind boy! Not only is that weird, but also gross behind comparison. Just imagine your dad jumping from one girl to the other. Disgusting I know, but shouldn't Fernanda and Pietra have the common sense to reject him when he comes back? They have to know that he won't choose one. Aureliano Segundo is the type of guy who doesn't want to run out of options. Then again, I guess we can't put to much blame on Aureliano, the two girls should know better.
It brings me much sadness to say that Ursula is finally gone! Oh how much I will miss her, but its okay because shes in a better place. Bless her soul.
Poor Macondo is going down hill it is not the same happy village it used to be. Then again "what do you expect time does that."
Now here we have Aureliano Segundo who is jumping from Fernanda to Peitra. Make up your mind boy! Not only is that weird, but also gross behind comparison. Just imagine your dad jumping from one girl to the other. Disgusting I know, but shouldn't Fernanda and Pietra have the common sense to reject him when he comes back? They have to know that he won't choose one. Aureliano Segundo is the type of guy who doesn't want to run out of options. Then again, I guess we can't put to much blame on Aureliano, the two girls should know better.
It brings me much sadness to say that Ursula is finally gone! Oh how much I will miss her, but its okay because shes in a better place. Bless her soul.
Poor Macondo is going down hill it is not the same happy village it used to be. Then again "what do you expect time does that."
Active Reading for Chpt. 14-17
Chapter 14 Summery- Fernanda gives birth to a baby girl, named Amaranta Ursula, against Fernandas wishes. Meme finishes school and comes back to Macondo where she develops a secret love affair with Mauricio Babilonia. Fernanda catches them together at the movies one Saturday night and forbids Meme to see him. Mauricio tries to make amends with Fernanda, but she rejects and sends him away. Amaranta receives an omen about her death, she will die at duck on the day that she finishes her shroud. Determined to atone her cruelty on others Amaranta would deliver "one last favor to the world, and she thought that no one was in a better position to take letters to the dead." Fulfill her omen Amaranta died at dusk, on the day she finish her shroud. Indifferent to her mothers forbidding, Meme would meet Mauricio every night around seven when she supposedly took her shower. After a couple months of these secret meetings Fernanda found out. She invited the new mayor to lunch the next day and asked him to station a guard in the backyard because she thought someone was stealing chickens. When Maurcio came to meet Meme the guard shot him. Crippling him for the rest of his life.
Chapter 15 Summery- Fernanda sends Meme away to her old school that she used to go to when she was young. After Maurcios shooting Meme never spoke and resorted to bitterness, depression and solitude, like that of Amaranta. Meme gives birth to a son who is sent back to Macondo where Fernanda grudgingly cares for him. Jose Arcadio Segundo starts a strike with the laborers of the Banana Company. JAS goes into hiding after a rival party tries to kill him. JAS assembled another revolt, this time about lack of sanitary facilities, no medical services, terrible working conditions, and no good pay. All rebels were sent to jail. The Banana Company laborers forced the company owners to sign tuition's backing them up. At court ,however, the company owners would either deny it or pretend that they are not the company owners and that they were someone else. The workers sabotaged the plantations when the army came to harvest it. The government ordered a massacre of all of the rebels and all those who chose to go down with them. The government then covered the Massacre by sending out proclamations stating that the workers went home peacefully. JAS is the only survivor of three thousand. Macondo doesn't know what happened. JAS resorted into solitude in Melquidaes's old room.
Chapter 16 Summery- It had rained for four years in Macondo. Driven from boredom Aureliano Segundo became very handy around the house. He adjusted hings, oiled locks, screwed knockers tight. Aureliano Segundo took up the responsibility of his new grandson and daughter. Colonel Gerineldo Marquez died. Aureliano Segundo went back to Pietra Cotes and soon discovered that all of his animals had died because of the rain and he no longer shared an intimate passion with Peitra. Aureliano went back to Fernanda and his original family house and scummed into a great laziness very much like Jose Arcadio Buendia. After Fernandas irritating daily complains Aureliano Segundo had an anger fit and later returned with plenty of food she had complained about. The owners of the life size plaster Saint Joseph is still a mystery. Ursula will not say the whereabouts of the statue. Determined Aureliano Segundo tried to find it. In June on a Friday it had finally ceased to rain.
Chapter 17 Summery- After the rains has stopped Ursula had finally gotten out of her bed. she had been there since Amaranta died. At nearly the age of one hundred thirty Ursula worked hard in vain to restore the home of her youth. Ursula died on the morning of good Friday. Aureliano Segundo received an omen that he would die very soon. Before his omen could come true, Aureliano Segundo worked twice as hard so that he could send Amaranta Ursula to Brussels to finish her schooling, like he had promised her. As soon as she had left both Aureliano Segundo and Jose Arcadio Segundo died at the same time. Identical just as they had arrived into the world they left in identical coffins. "The sad drunkards who carried them out of the house got the coffins mixed up and buried them in the wrong graves.
Chapter 15 Summery- Fernanda sends Meme away to her old school that she used to go to when she was young. After Maurcios shooting Meme never spoke and resorted to bitterness, depression and solitude, like that of Amaranta. Meme gives birth to a son who is sent back to Macondo where Fernanda grudgingly cares for him. Jose Arcadio Segundo starts a strike with the laborers of the Banana Company. JAS goes into hiding after a rival party tries to kill him. JAS assembled another revolt, this time about lack of sanitary facilities, no medical services, terrible working conditions, and no good pay. All rebels were sent to jail. The Banana Company laborers forced the company owners to sign tuition's backing them up. At court ,however, the company owners would either deny it or pretend that they are not the company owners and that they were someone else. The workers sabotaged the plantations when the army came to harvest it. The government ordered a massacre of all of the rebels and all those who chose to go down with them. The government then covered the Massacre by sending out proclamations stating that the workers went home peacefully. JAS is the only survivor of three thousand. Macondo doesn't know what happened. JAS resorted into solitude in Melquidaes's old room.
Chapter 16 Summery- It had rained for four years in Macondo. Driven from boredom Aureliano Segundo became very handy around the house. He adjusted hings, oiled locks, screwed knockers tight. Aureliano Segundo took up the responsibility of his new grandson and daughter. Colonel Gerineldo Marquez died. Aureliano Segundo went back to Pietra Cotes and soon discovered that all of his animals had died because of the rain and he no longer shared an intimate passion with Peitra. Aureliano went back to Fernanda and his original family house and scummed into a great laziness very much like Jose Arcadio Buendia. After Fernandas irritating daily complains Aureliano Segundo had an anger fit and later returned with plenty of food she had complained about. The owners of the life size plaster Saint Joseph is still a mystery. Ursula will not say the whereabouts of the statue. Determined Aureliano Segundo tried to find it. In June on a Friday it had finally ceased to rain.
Chapter 17 Summery- After the rains has stopped Ursula had finally gotten out of her bed. she had been there since Amaranta died. At nearly the age of one hundred thirty Ursula worked hard in vain to restore the home of her youth. Ursula died on the morning of good Friday. Aureliano Segundo received an omen that he would die very soon. Before his omen could come true, Aureliano Segundo worked twice as hard so that he could send Amaranta Ursula to Brussels to finish her schooling, like he had promised her. As soon as she had left both Aureliano Segundo and Jose Arcadio Segundo died at the same time. Identical just as they had arrived into the world they left in identical coffins. "The sad drunkards who carried them out of the house got the coffins mixed up and buried them in the wrong graves.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Reflective Reading for Chapters 7-11
I would first like to say that Ursula is beyond my favorite character in this book. She is very smart and even realises the continuously repetition of the Jose Arcadios. She is always there to support their family and loves them unconditionally no matter what they do. I believe that Ursula is the mother archetype in this novel. She is the best! Amaranta is a drama case. Yes, we all know her husband killed himself, but that doesn't mean that she needs to isolate herself from everything around her and not except any ones help or love. She is also the one who drove her husband to kill himself. She needs to learn to move on from things and not hold on to them because its only bringing herself down and keeping her form living her life.I am starting to understand the gist of the title of the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. All of the characters go into a long period of Solitude after heartbreak, pain, or suffering. I feel like I am watching a soap opera. Everything that happens intertwines with everything and everyone in here. An aunt sleeping with her nephew? A son wanting to have sex with his mother? What is that about! I know Gabriel Marquez is trying to send a message to the world, but he sure does have a funny way of expressing it. What is really ironic is that he has allot of references to the bible and through very sexual and sinful lessons. But, this book is almost done and quite frankly I'm glad. Though this is a prized novel it isn't one of my favorites and something I wouldn't have chosen to read on my own. I miss reading my favorites, but i gotta stick it out, i gotta get the grade. Maybe one day I will understand it better and like it more in the future, but until then I'll just have to endure.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Active Reading for Chapters 7-11
Chapter 7 summery: The government ended the war and took hostages that had started the rebellion, like Colonel Aureliano Buendia. He was sentenced to die, but his last request was for it to be don in Macondo. His execution was postponed for fear of arousing rebellion in the town. Ursual visits her son in jail, Aureliano, as they catch up Aureliano realises that Macondo has changed allot, she also brings him his clothes from his wedding, candy, and a gun. Just befor CAB is executed by the troops Jose Arcadio saves him with his shotgun. The troops shoot Jose Arcadio, his blood runs all the way to Ursulas house. Rebeca was locked in her bathroom through all of this. Grief stricken Rebeca isolates herself from everyone and hardly comes out of her house. Gerineldo Marquez tells Amaranta that he is in love with her, but she doesn't feel the same way. JAB dies.
Chapter 8 Summery-Amaranta and Aureliano Jose have a fling, they chase each other to the corners of the house and sleep naked in the same bed, eventually Amaranta realises that it is wrong and she shouldn't use him to be rid of her solitude and ends this fling. AJ starts to sleep in the barracks instead. Rumors are spread about CAB's death and how he died, CAB leaves taking his son with him AJ. Visitation dies. General Raquel Moncada was named mayor and established peace in Macondo; unarmed policemen, enforced amnesty laws, helped family of Liberals. Bruno Crepsi married Amparo Moscote. AJ came back determined to marry Amaranta. Over the time of twelve years 17 of CAB's sons come to Ursula's house to be baptized. CAB attacks Macondo.
Chapter 9 Summery-The war rages on, but CAB becomes more and more unsure about his strategies the longer the war goes on.Colonel Gerineldo Marquez grow tired and bored of the war and took on the habit of visiting Amaranta in her sewing room. Amaranta locks herself in her bedroom and repeatedly rejects his love. CAB comes back home tired as a changed whithered man he desires to kill himself, but Ursula forbids it and threatens that if he does she will kill him with her own two hands. CAB starts to forget things, people, and memories even those of his beloved Remedios. Ursula feels that she doesn't even know him anymore. CAB tries to shoot himself but he misses his heart and is spared from his death.
Chapter 10 Summery- Ursula begins to realize the circular history of those of all of the Aureliano's and the Jose Arcadio's. Aurliano took up the habit of talking to the ghost of Melquides in the ghost's old room he also became a cock fighter. Because the twins look exactly alike and acted alike, Petra Cotes slept with both of them without even knowing it. Like JAB, Jose Arcadio Segundo created a boatline and tried to embark on a journey. Ursula notes on the repetition of Jose Acardio. Many men are attracted to Remedios the beauty and try to pursue her, but she rejects them all. She is also the queen for the carnival, during the carnival intruders crash it by shooting t everyone.
Chapter 11 Summery- After a marriage of two months, Aureliano Segundo's marriage is almost broken after Petro Cotes sees a picture of her dressed like the queen of Madagascar. She packs her bridal clothes and leaves without saying good bye, but he tries to make her come back by pretending to by mad. Fernanda an Aureliano Segundo become great friends and become closer than that. Ursula notes that this relationship is a repetition of hers with JAB because they didn't sleep together for a while.Fernanda is more innocent and still wears a night gown, Aureliano Sengudo. All of CAB's seventeen sons come an visit and all go to church thye stay for three days.
Illusion in Chapter 8- Aureliano Jose was innocent before his growth spurt but "when he became aware of his own nakedness" he started to notice Amaranta in a more sexual view. This is an illusion towards Adam and Eve in the Bible after they ate the forbidden fruit they had become aware of their nakedness.
Chapter 8 Summery-Amaranta and Aureliano Jose have a fling, they chase each other to the corners of the house and sleep naked in the same bed, eventually Amaranta realises that it is wrong and she shouldn't use him to be rid of her solitude and ends this fling. AJ starts to sleep in the barracks instead. Rumors are spread about CAB's death and how he died, CAB leaves taking his son with him AJ. Visitation dies. General Raquel Moncada was named mayor and established peace in Macondo; unarmed policemen, enforced amnesty laws, helped family of Liberals. Bruno Crepsi married Amparo Moscote. AJ came back determined to marry Amaranta. Over the time of twelve years 17 of CAB's sons come to Ursula's house to be baptized. CAB attacks Macondo.
Chapter 9 Summery-The war rages on, but CAB becomes more and more unsure about his strategies the longer the war goes on.Colonel Gerineldo Marquez grow tired and bored of the war and took on the habit of visiting Amaranta in her sewing room. Amaranta locks herself in her bedroom and repeatedly rejects his love. CAB comes back home tired as a changed whithered man he desires to kill himself, but Ursula forbids it and threatens that if he does she will kill him with her own two hands. CAB starts to forget things, people, and memories even those of his beloved Remedios. Ursula feels that she doesn't even know him anymore. CAB tries to shoot himself but he misses his heart and is spared from his death.
Chapter 10 Summery- Ursula begins to realize the circular history of those of all of the Aureliano's and the Jose Arcadio's. Aurliano took up the habit of talking to the ghost of Melquides in the ghost's old room he also became a cock fighter. Because the twins look exactly alike and acted alike, Petra Cotes slept with both of them without even knowing it. Like JAB, Jose Arcadio Segundo created a boatline and tried to embark on a journey. Ursula notes on the repetition of Jose Acardio. Many men are attracted to Remedios the beauty and try to pursue her, but she rejects them all. She is also the queen for the carnival, during the carnival intruders crash it by shooting t everyone.
Chapter 11 Summery- After a marriage of two months, Aureliano Segundo's marriage is almost broken after Petro Cotes sees a picture of her dressed like the queen of Madagascar. She packs her bridal clothes and leaves without saying good bye, but he tries to make her come back by pretending to by mad. Fernanda an Aureliano Segundo become great friends and become closer than that. Ursula notes that this relationship is a repetition of hers with JAB because they didn't sleep together for a while.Fernanda is more innocent and still wears a night gown, Aureliano Sengudo. All of CAB's seventeen sons come an visit and all go to church thye stay for three days.
Illusion in Chapter 8- Aureliano Jose was innocent before his growth spurt but "when he became aware of his own nakedness" he started to notice Amaranta in a more sexual view. This is an illusion towards Adam and Eve in the Bible after they ate the forbidden fruit they had become aware of their nakedness.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Reflective Reading for Chpt. 3-6
One Hundred Years of Solitude. Wow that's a mouthful. I am still pondering on what Gabriel means and if the title is a part of the theme that this novel contains. After reading the chapters 3-6 it kinda seems like I'm watching a soap opera. Aureliano gets drunk and sleeps with his brother JAs ex- girlfriend and she has a son from JA, which is also Aurelianos nephew. Then Rebeca, Amarantas adopted sister is supposed to marry Pietro, but Amaranta is in love with Pietro too and would do anything to prevent them from getting married. Even kill her very own sister who she has grown up with.
So far I am only understanding that Garbriel is trying to tell us that just like these characters we have drama just like them and sometimes worse. I don't know what he is trying to teach us yet.
The actual plot of this novel is hard to follow though because there are so many allusions and magical realism and other literary elements that you are trying to keep up with that you get lost in the gist of the plot. Not to mention the diction that Gabriel uses. It gets a little confusing. I guess you just need to try to put yourself in his shoes to actually understand what he is trying to teach us. Maybe by researching about the history that Gabriel grow up with around the time that he wrote this novel, maybe then we might be able to understand what he is trying to teach us.
This novel is intriguing and suspenseful. To me that is. Its probably because I don't really see the point in this book or understand the morale. Give it a little time, and I will crack this mystery. I am determined!
So far I am only understanding that Garbriel is trying to tell us that just like these characters we have drama just like them and sometimes worse. I don't know what he is trying to teach us yet.
The actual plot of this novel is hard to follow though because there are so many allusions and magical realism and other literary elements that you are trying to keep up with that you get lost in the gist of the plot. Not to mention the diction that Gabriel uses. It gets a little confusing. I guess you just need to try to put yourself in his shoes to actually understand what he is trying to teach us. Maybe by researching about the history that Gabriel grow up with around the time that he wrote this novel, maybe then we might be able to understand what he is trying to teach us.
This novel is intriguing and suspenseful. To me that is. Its probably because I don't really see the point in this book or understand the morale. Give it a little time, and I will crack this mystery. I am determined!
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