Michelle Kim
2/8/19
Six Generations of Solitude The word 'solitude' embodies a wide array of interpretations that translate to meanings unique to each individual. For some, solitude means isolation, loneliness, and rejection. For others, it means the greater acceptance and understanding of the reality, the society and the fate. Thus, the recurring mention of the word 'solitude' and the ideas associated with it in "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is that of a deliberate choice by the brilliant author. Marquez intentionally chose the word 'solitude' to describe the differing conditions and experiences of individuals in the Buendia household. Throughout the six generations of the Buendia family in the isolated and remote …show more content…
For instance, Fernada Del Caprio embodies the rigidity and inflexibility of Catholicism and when she attempts to assume the role of a matriarch in the family by introducing organized customs and practices inapplicable and inappropriate to the free and liberated spirits of the Buendias, tension arises between the young and the old. Throughout the novel, the conflict between Fernada and Ursula--introducing modern traditions and retreating towards traditions respectively--gradually eats away the Buendia family. Whereas Fernada's traditions illustrate that "calamities should not be used as a pretext for any relaxation in customs" (318), Ursula's customs "come more from inspiration than from traditions" (213). In other words, Fernada's beliefs prioritizes and values societal expectations while Ursula's values lie more towards reacting to the immediate needs of the society. The sharp contrast in the perspective of two powerful women in the novel plagues other members of the family with commotion, confusion and chaos. For instance, when the narrator describes how "Fernada had worked out of the most minute details of a plane destined to wipe out all traces of the burden", the narrator hints at Fernada's selfish nature to prioritize the repercussions and the shame she must deal with in response to the birth of an illegitimate child than the fact that her own daughter has become "mute" and regressed into a state of permanent solitude (294). The ironic reality of the most religious member of the family being illustrated as a brutal, careless and inconsiderate figure strips the Buendia family of any remaining morals and virtues, leaving them in complete solitude and disconnected with the rest of the
2/8/19
Six Generations of Solitude The word 'solitude' embodies a wide array of interpretations that translate to meanings unique to each individual. For some, solitude means isolation, loneliness, and rejection. For others, it means the greater acceptance and understanding of the reality, the society and the fate. Thus, the recurring mention of the word 'solitude' and the ideas associated with it in "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is that of a deliberate choice by the brilliant author. Marquez intentionally chose the word 'solitude' to describe the differing conditions and experiences of individuals in the Buendia household. Throughout the six generations of the Buendia family in the isolated and remote …show more content…
For instance, Fernada Del Caprio embodies the rigidity and inflexibility of Catholicism and when she attempts to assume the role of a matriarch in the family by introducing organized customs and practices inapplicable and inappropriate to the free and liberated spirits of the Buendias, tension arises between the young and the old. Throughout the novel, the conflict between Fernada and Ursula--introducing modern traditions and retreating towards traditions respectively--gradually eats away the Buendia family. Whereas Fernada's traditions illustrate that "calamities should not be used as a pretext for any relaxation in customs" (318), Ursula's customs "come more from inspiration than from traditions" (213). In other words, Fernada's beliefs prioritizes and values societal expectations while Ursula's values lie more towards reacting to the immediate needs of the society. The sharp contrast in the perspective of two powerful women in the novel plagues other members of the family with commotion, confusion and chaos. For instance, when the narrator describes how "Fernada had worked out of the most minute details of a plane destined to wipe out all traces of the burden", the narrator hints at Fernada's selfish nature to prioritize the repercussions and the shame she must deal with in response to the birth of an illegitimate child than the fact that her own daughter has become "mute" and regressed into a state of permanent solitude (294). The ironic reality of the most religious member of the family being illustrated as a brutal, careless and inconsiderate figure strips the Buendia family of any remaining morals and virtues, leaving them in complete solitude and disconnected with the rest of the