100 Years Of Solitude Chaos Analysis

Chaos and order are often thought of as polar opposites that negate the other. However, in order to experience one, the other must also be understood. Gabriel Garcia Marquez understands the necessity of knowing both phenomena, and represents the connection between the two within his novel 100 Years of Solitude. Through the portrayal of the married couple Ursula and Jose Arcadio Buendia, Marquez displays how the concepts of chaos and order are unified and interact with each other. Despite all the tragedies that occur within the novel, Ursula does her best to keep her family stable, unified, and together. When a group of gypsies visits the village of Macondo, Ursula and Jose Arcadio Buendia’s eldest son Jose Arcadio becomes infatuated with one of the girls traveling with them, and follows them once they leave the village. Infuriated, Ursula sets out to find her missing son, but fails in her task. Some time later, the gypsies return without Ursula’s missing son. Therefore, she decried that the “the gypsies were not allowed to camp in town or set foot in it in the future, for they …show more content…
The events of the novel are very chaotic and filled with confusion, but also offer moments in which the characters are allowed to experience calmness and peace before being reintroduced to turmoil. Nevertheless, the moments of peace, despite how brief they might seem, are greatly appreciated. The characters, as well the audience, are only able to enjoy these moments because there have been multiple hardships that previously had to be confronted beforehand. The purpose of using Ursula and Jose Arcadio Buendia to serve as doubles for these themes is to demonstrate that one can have more control than the other for so long, and that the two are connected. Although it is impossible to truly escape chaos, there are periods of peace to look forward