One Hundred Years Of Solitude Analysis
The words âsolitaryâ and âsolitudeâ appear on nearly every page of this book. Discuss why the members of the BuendÃa family are so alone. Provide examples.
What is GarcÃa Márquez trying to say about the nature of man? What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the author?
Sample Solution
The words "solitary" and "solitude" are indeed prevalent throughout Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez's novel One Hundred Years of Solitude. The members of the BuendÃa family are alone for a variety of reasons, both personal and societal.
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Personal reasons:
- Pride and isolation: Many of the BuendÃas are proud and isolated individuals who have difficulty connecting with others. For example, José Arcadio BuendÃa, the patriarch of the family, is so obsessed with his own inventions that he neglects his wife and children. Aureliano BuendÃa, the colonel, is a solitary figure who is more comfortable fighting wars than forming relationships.
Full Answer Section
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- Fear of intimacy:Â Some of the BuendÃas are afraid of intimacy and closeness. For example, Rebeca, the adopted daughter of the BuendÃas, is so afraid of being touched that she wears a burlap sack to protect herself from physical contact.
- Inability to communicate:Â The BuendÃas often have difficulty communicating with each other. They are unable to express their feelings and thoughts, which leads to misunderstandings and resentment. For example, Amaranta and Petra, the twins, are rivals for the love of the same man. Their rivalry leads to years of silence and bitterness.
- Societal reasons:
- Machismo: The BuendÃas live in a society that is dominated by machismo, or male chauvinism. This makes it difficult for women to form close relationships with men. For example, Ãrsula Iguarán, the matriarch of the family, is a strong and independent woman, but she is also isolated from the men in her life.
- Violence and conflict:Â The BuendÃas live in a time of violence and conflict. This makes it difficult for people to trust each other. For example, the town of Macondo is torn apart by a civil war that lasts for many years.
- José Arcadio BuendÃa spends years locked in a room, working on his inventions.
- Aureliano BuendÃa fights in countless wars, but he never forms close relationships with anyone.
- Rebeca wears a burlap sack to protect herself from physical contact.
- Amaranta and Petra spend years not speaking to each other.
- Ãrsula Iguarán is a strong and independent woman, but she is also isolated from the men in her life.