Active Reading.

Ch. 1

Summary
In Macondo is where Jose Arcadio Buendia and his family live. He helped lead the expedition that founded it. He is there with his wife/cousin Ursula Iguaran with his three kids Jose Arcadio jr., Amaranta, and Aureliano. Jose sr. is an innovative man with new ideas. He proclaimed that the world was round , but the people of his town saw him as crazy. That was until Melquaides, a gypsy, came and said his theory was true. Jose was then given a laboratory of an alchemist. He also travels to the north, but eventually declares that Macondo is surrounded by water.

Quotes
"The earth is round; like an orange." p.4 Jose Arcadio Buendia, telling his theory which eventually earns him his own laboratory.

"Science has eliminated distance." Melquiades, showing off a telescope to the people.

Magical Realism

• Melquides and his two magnetized ingots.
• Jose Arcadio Buendia seeing the ice and being amazed.

Themes
solitude v. company: Jose Arcadio Buendia represents solitude, as he shows early on that he doesnt have a particular interest in his family. He takes his kids to see the ice that intrigues him, and he only cares about them if they take a particular interest in his work.

Character Development
Jose Arcadio Buendia displays his lack of interest in his children and wife and seems to become unsociable. He goes to extreme lengths for his scientific research that leads to pain to his own body, as well emotional problems for Ursula. It is the first chapter, so we will see how he develops.


Ch. 2

Summary
Ursula and Jose talk about doing the nasty. She is afraid to because her relatives have been born with genetic defects. One uncle was born with a pig's tail. Because of this, rumors were spread around the village that Jose was impotent. One day, after winning a cock fight, a man named Prudencio Aguilar made a very smart comment. Too bad it led to having spear thrown into his throat. That night, Jose came home to Ursula and they did the nasty. The death of Prudencio leads to hallucinations by Ursula and then by Jose. Eventually, he and Ursula decide to leave the village, in which they found Macondo.

Jose Arcadio Jr. sleeps with a gypsy who becomes pregnant so he runs away with her. Ursula goes searching for him and when she returns, she comes back with some more people.

Quotes
"Maybe that rooster of yours can do your wife a favor." Prudencio Aguilar, the smart comment that led to him being killed by Jose Arcadio Buendia. p.21

"Just as many times as you come back, I'll kill you again." JAB talking to his hallucinationof a dead Prudencio.

Themes
Revenge is major theme because of the killing of Prudencio. Guilt is another because of the hallucinations. Incest is another because Jose has sex with his wife who is his cousin.

Magic Realism

• Ursula wearing a chasity belt.
• Prudencio hallucinations.
• Uncle's pig tails because of incest.

Character Development
You get to see the image of Jose before Macondo, and the picture that you get is that he is a strong willed man with a sense of pride and rashness, what some people call a typical male. He also has the makings of a leader because he leads an expedition that eventually leads to the founding of Macondo.


Ch.3


Summary

The gypsies return but not with Jose Arcadio, but with his son, so JAB names him Jose Arcadio Buendia (III) but call him Arcadio. A girl comes to live with them named Rebeca, their relative who is eleven. She eats dirt and likes clocks. They finally cure of eating dirt, but then she gets insomnia which spreads across town. Everybody starts to forget things so they have to label everything. Melquaides returns which brings back everbody's memory. Aurieliano sleeps with Pilar Ternera, then she leaves. Don Apolinar comes to town and declares himself magistrate for Macondo. He ends up leaving when Jose gets real gangsta on him.


Quotes

"you may stay here, not because you have those bandits with shotguns at the door, but out of consideration for your wife." Jose Arcadio Buendia, telling Don Apolinar Moscote, the man declaring himself the magistrate of Macondo.

"Somebody is coming." Aureliano to Ursula. He was right. Their distant cousin Rebeca arrives.

Themes
I see pride as a theme because of the situation with Don Apolinar. The town also seem to be interconnected because of the whole insomnia outbreak.

Magical Realism

• Rebecca and her isolate ways and eating dirt habit.

• Aureliano instinctively knowing someone is coming. (Rebeca)

• Everyone getting insomnia as well as forgetting things

• Melquides' return from the dead.
  

Character Development

Jose Arcadio Buendia shows a strong sense of pride for the town he founded. When an outsider comes to govern it, he immediately sets that person straight. He also displays a strong sense of character by not causing violence and not really persisting upon it. He realized that the man has come with his family so Jose does not make any rash decisions. He tells the guy that they live in peace and they may stay here in peace.

Ch.4

Summary
Aureliano sees Remedios for the 1st time and wants to marry her but she is too young. Rebeca and Amaranta fued is ignited because of Crespi marrying Rebeca. Amaranta loves Crespi deeply. Melquaides returns, but dies. Says he learns immortality. Helps Prudencio find JAB, in which they talk for a great amount of time and actually become very good friends. Mind you, Prudencio is dead. JAB goes mad, which is apparent when he says Tuesday is Monday and yesterday was Monday too. Aureliano deciphers some thingy of Melquiades that talks of immortality.



Quotes
"I've come to sleep with you." Aureliano, saying to Pilar Ternera, who did not oppose this and took him to bed. Pilar Ternera is the woman who ran away with his brother, but did not return with him.

"With so many pretty and decent girls around, the only thing that occurs to you is to get married to the daughter of our enemy." JAB speaking to Aureliano when he declars hes gonna marry Remedios Moscote, daughter of the magistrate Don Apolinar Moscote.

Themes
Forgivance, JAB becoming friends with dead Prudencio. Sibling rivalry as well with the whole Rebeca and Amaranta fued. Rebirth also seems to be one with Melquaides coming back from the dead and sharing the immortality secret.

Magical Realism

• JAB being friends with a dead man
• Melquaides and his immortality
• Aureliano and the mercury making the house never dusty
• JAB going crazy

Character Development
JAB loses his mind because of Prudencio and their intimate friendly talks. Aureliano falls deeply for Remedios, but also shows shades of his father when he deciphers Melquaides' parchment and the whole mercury exploding. Rebeca becomes fearful of Amaranta because she knows she will kill her when it comes down to Crespi.

Ch.5


Summary

Remedios fakes getting her period. Is set to marry a month later to Aureliano. Shows kindness to JAB by bringing him a large piece of cake while he is tied up to a chestnut tree. Father Nicanor Reyna, with chocalate levitates for everyone. JAB doesn't see it as a miracle. Nicanor tries to put faith in JAB, but JAB actually puts "different" thoughts into the Fathers head. Rebeca and Crespi are suppose to marry the same day as Aureliano and Remedios, but he is delayed when he receives a false letter saying his mother has died. Amaranta swears not to have wrote it. He decides to have the wedding the day the church is built. Amaranta tries to sabotage the wedding dress then decides to try to poison Rebeca. Remedios dies with two twins. Jose Arcadio Jr returns, with incredible size and strength. Rebeca falls deeply for him. Have sex one night and get married three days later. Crespi is heart broken but ends up falling for Amaranta. Aureliano still speaks to his father-in-law, who tells him of the Conservatives versus Liberals. Eventually, Aureliano declares himself liberal and leads the liberals in war, in which he becomes Colonel Aureliano Buendia.

Quotes
"Now we shall witness an undeniable proof of the infinite power of God." Father Nicanor, displaying his power to levitate.

"You're going to be the one who will inauguratethe church with your wedding." Amaranta to Rebeca. Ama is jealous that Rebeca is marrying Pietro Crespi, who she loves deeply.

Themes

Incest, with Jose Jr and Rebeca, but they are only distant relatives. Politics is also a central themee, witht he war beginning between Conservatives and Liberals.

Magical Realism

• The priest levitating
• JAB tied to a tree talking to himself in Latin
• Jose Jr incredible strength

Character Development
JAB is tied up to tree and is not really a focal point. The happenings here are with Aureliano, who is deeply affected by the death of his wife Remedios, who at the time was loved by everyone for her spirit. Rebeca falls in love with her "brother" Jose jr., leaving Crespi who eventually falls for Amaranta who loved him from the start. Amaranta adopts the son of Aureliano and Remedios as penance for wanting to kill Rebeca the way Remedios died. Aureliano also develops into a main figure when he speaks to his father-in-law who is a conservative. Aureliano considers himself a Liberal, which are at war with Conservatives. He eventually becomes Colonel Aureliano, changing from simple man to a military leader.


Ch. 6


Summary

Aureliano led 32 uprisings which all failed. Had seventeen children with 17 different women and all were executed. He survived 14 attempts on his life, 73 ambushes, and a firing squad. Jose (III) becomes leader of Macondo, and declares alot of ubsurd decrees. He is eventually overthrown when Ursula beats him with a whip when he goes to kill Don Apolinar. She beats him so badly that everyone sees her as the ruler, so she gets rid of all the decrees and restores order. Amaranta declines Crespis offer for marriage. He goes crazy and kills himself. Jose jr. gets a mistress named Santa Sofia, who he gets pregnant, so he marrys her. He is killed when leading an army.

Quotes
"I dare you to, bastard." Ursual to Arcadio. She then whips him for trying to kill Don Apolinar Moscote.
"Dont be so simple" Amaranta to Crespi. She decides not to marry him. He goes crazy and kills himself.

Themes
Tyranny versus liberty: Aureliano is fighting for the liberals and Ursula is able to free Macondo of Arcadio rule. Unrequited love is another with the situation with Amaranta and Crespi.

Magical Realism

• Crespi sings one day and everyone notices except the woman he loves.

Character Development

Amaranta seems like a cold hearted woman with no intentions to be happy. Ursula weeps for the dead Crespi because of his kindness. Arcadio is a tyrant, and shows that Ursula was unable to raise him as their son. Jose jr. takes care of his mistress, including getting her a house. Decides to lead an army but is executed.