In the novel One Hundred Years of solitude, Gabriel Garcia Marquez tries to prove that no individual or family can survive without dependence. The theme of solitude is the soul of the novel; the main characters of the novel experience solitude in one way or other.
The juncture where the solitude breaks are the death of Jose Arcadio Buendia and the village of Macondo is wiped off from the earth by a hurricane. Thus the novel can be rightly understood as a depiction of how solitude governs the lives of seven generations of a family, and how this great tradition of sticking to the family breaks at the end with the death of Buendia, who ultimately realizes the futility of being solitary. Again from a different viewpoint, the break in the solitude of the Buendia family maybe by the interference of the reader.
Solitude is the main theme of the novel, and Jose Arcadio Buendia, the founder of Macondo, is the first great solitary. Earlier, Buendia was a man of adventure, he and his men used to cross the mountains to find out a better place to live. The narrator echoes this when he states: “In his youth, Jose Arcadio Buendia and his men, with wives and children, had crossed the mountains in search of an outlet to the sea, and after twenty-six months they gave up the expedition and founded Macondo, so they would not have to go back.” (Garcia Marquez, p.11). It is thus evident that Jose Arcadio Buendia was not so gloomy and lazy and that it is the solitary tradition of the family that made him one.
His wife Ursula is busy rearing the children of her sons and grandsons. Contrasted to the personality and character of Jose Arcadio Buendia, the whole life of his wife is devoted to the family. When he retired from his duties and responsibilities, Ursula, the wife shouldered the responsibility bravely. The living standard of the family is to be determined by her and it is evident from the words of the narrator: “As long as Ursula had full use of her faculties some of the old customs survived and the life of the family kept some quality of her impulsiveness… no one but she determined the destiny of the family.” (Garcia Marquez, p. 228) It shows the responsible nature of the womenfolk of the Buendia family.
The theme of solitude overrules the novel, and it demonstrates the fact that it is impossible to exist in isolation, and it enforces the truth of interdependence and mutual understanding. The Buendia family faces emotional and physical solitude had to endure the same for the whole one-hundred-year life in the isolated town of Macondo. The novel begins with the geographical isolation of the town of Maconda and the physical isolation of the Buendia family.
The town is believed to be in the same condition as the people because it is also cut off from other societies. The head of the Buendia family, Jose Arcadio Buendia, leads a lonely life and he is ready to accept this life as his own fate.
Here once again the narrator ponders upon the thoughts of Jose Arcadio Buendia: “They were new gypsies, young men, and women who knew only their own language, [who had] the multiple-use machine that could be used at the same time to sew on buttons and reduce fevers, and the apparatus to make a person forget his bad memories, and a poultice to lose time, and a thousand more inventions so ingenious and so unusual that Jose Arcadio Buendia must have wanted to invent the memory machine so that he could remember them all.” (Garcia Marquez, p. 17). Only by reading between lines, one can find out, which is a dream and which is reality. Sometimes, there is no distinction between fancy and the real world.
Another argument, as solitude is the main theme of the novel, can be argued that the solitude of the Buendia family is broken by the reader. When the time does not possess any control over the family, there is the scope for the reader to interfere and to break the solitude. When no other chance occurs, the reader who knows the story can do the job to break the solitude. Here, Ursula, wife of Jose Arcadia Buendia, is a bold character, and with her help, Jose Arcadia can be made aware of the situation. The reader can have a pivotal role in breaking the solitude.
Throughout the novel, they feel the loneliness and accept it as their destiny. The family hesitated to accept things and ideas other than from their own circle, and they remain isolated. One of the other themes of the novel is the marriage and sexual relationship among the same family members. When this incest happens and continued to generations, the scope of connection with other families becomes limited.
Here, Gabriel Garcia Marquez uses magical realism, the mixture of real-life situations and fantasy, to focus the life and the solitude that affected the generations of the Buendia family. The solitude of the Buendia family is the central theme of the novel and it affected the very root of the family, and the next seven generations of the Buendia family had to face its effect.
The submissive attitude of Jose Arcadio Buendia is behind the cause of the solitude, the cyclic process of life, and a hurricane breaks the solitude, and the town of Macondo is totally buried forever, and another possibility, to break the solitude by the reader is also explored. The reality that the novelist wanted to say is that no family or society can exist without interdependence and mutual understanding. Moreover, among the variety of treatment like the haunted town of Macondo, the history of the seven generations of the Buendia family, narrative techniques, etc, the theme of solitude is the focus of the novel.
Works Cited
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel. One Hundred Years of Solitude. New York: Harper Perennial, 1998.
One hundred years of solitude is a fictional work of art by former Spanish journalist and writer Gabriel Garcia. The work of art is about a village known as Macondo that starts as the author descriptively gives form and shape through the mixed chronological time movement an account of the human life conditions and situations of the characters in the novel.
This paper will focus on the Garcia’s presentation of the Latin-American society taking a critical outlook from his creative work of art One Hundred Years of Solitude.
In addition, this work will give examples and discuss the societal criticism of the Latin-American society arising from the mythical and magical realism presentation in the novel as in accordance to the given guidelines of this paper. Garcia’s novel is a clear work that starts and sees the rise of magical realism and myths in artists’ works.
This work, One Hundred Years of Solitude forms one of the early works to be taken seriously in the mythical and magical realism movement. While explaining the Latin-American life preconditions in symbol form of Macondo, the author lets us realize that he is speaking about the political, religious and banal issues of his society during his time.
Being a renowned fictional writer he received a Nobel Prize for literature in 1982 due to this work of art which though he believes that it is a representation of his childhood views we are limited to understand and get interpretation from the work.
This arises from the fact that an artist is the voice of the society thus what he codes in his work of art can be decoded by the reader in the process of reading this work. The author was brought up in Latin- American society in the 60 and 70s which corresponds to the pinnacle of communism.
. With his descriptions we get information that we are able to relate with history and that is evidenced in archives. However, the contents of Garcia’s work are shaped by the form and the structure of the novel in a kind of alternating relationship. The author presents issues from realistic point of concerns to unrealistic mythical factors with the characters not recognizing the occurring boundaries and even their predicaments.
The numbers of events transpiring in the novel occur in a mixed time set up playing from past, present and future thus the reader is thrown into a confusion of what exactly is happening.
Woven in the fabric of this work of art, are elements which are in forms of dreamlike ideals and notions that border fantasies. In this sense, the representation of the Latin American society is symbolized as a society where the individuals do not understand the forces that are behind their daily lives (Bell-Villada 45).
In the first chapters, Macondo is an image of the pre-civilized Latin America where the patriarch Jose Arcadio Buendia is the founding father of this older society. The village interactions at this period of time are only limited to external gypsies who bring their small but magnificent technology and knowledge to Macondo.
At this time, the village has no contact with the outside world and probably it is surrounded by gigantic forests and wild animals. Ursula the founding mother discovers a way to the outside world during her journey in an attempt to mend her disintegrating family thus civilization is foreshadowed through her.
At this time the village access to water, food and other life necessities as per to the requirements of the time emanate from equal proposition from the village leader, Jose Arcadio Beundia.
This is a representation of communism in a communalistic society on which apparently the author wants the reader to connect that Latin- America has its history that can be referred to when looking for the explanation of what has happened in the recent history.
Besides, still Garcia with his writing magic may be implying to us that, the origin of the Latin American society is just like any other society starting from the most humble and lowest to the most complex and civilized society with difficulties and struggles of each era hence evolution.
The criticism thus arises that Latin America has been riddled by vicious elements of communism thus the political side of the society is a creation of different interests harbored by different members of the society. The rise of a repressive form of government led by magistrate Moscote is an indication of western society, modernity and colonialism effect to the poor nations.
Men like Colonel Aurelio Buendia are against such governments but the author in his work seems to suggest that colonialism is a strong combined force that attempts to fight against lead to years of civil war, unrest and deplorable conditions of life with the loss of life too.
Colonel’s final state of mind reveals the internal effects of modernity under the guise of colonialism. The most renowned soldier figure, Colonel Aurelio looses his insanity, a clear depiction of human degradation of the Latin society and the reeling effects of capitalism.
These forces bring in new technology which is foreign to Macondo but has the characteristics of exploitation and neo colonialism. This is well depicted by the fruit company with the large plantation which is an extension of capitalistic multinationals concerted efforts to own the largest means of production in the world (“Gabriel García Márquez” Para. 5).
Garcia therefore criticizes Latin America explicitly by failing to take charge in unified efforts to create and curve a niche in the world by insisting on autonomy and own government from the initial start. The string of dictatorial and corrupt governments later in Macondo by Arcadio and Moscote are the results of poor corrupted leadership and capitalistic intentions respectively.
These lead to civil war and mass uprising of the concerned few people who seem to understand and at the same time don’t seem to relinquish the purpose and benefits of good governance.
The author at this point directs us to labor union conflicts with the capitalistic forces and the strikes are the muffled efforts to redeem themselves from the entangling web of capitalism. However, the force of communism tries to keep the society binding in the failing war.
Keeping to themselves the Latin Americans will never liberate themselves from the daily struggles and chains of poverty. Solitude in Latin- America in terms of ideologies does not help the society, but only a creation of doom in the sense of economy, political death in world politics and international sidelining.
In an implicit criticism pattern, Gabriel Garcia characteristically attacks the increased death rates from inhuman practices. With the civil war running for quite a span of time, many deaths occur in Macondo in the search of peace and stability. In addition, the tension and conflict between the unions and workers lead to a massacre that soon the Macondo people forget after the five year’s rainfall.
In this situation, the criticism lies in the Latin America long journey to freedom, self expression and pursuit of knowledge and happiness. Many people die due to this noble cause for the need of every democratic free society to experience growth and development.
The author seems to protest against this unnecessary waste of time, resources and energy by terminating human life. In accordance to the Holy Scriptures it is a commandment not to kill. This probably is the reason behind old Jose Arcadio Buendia crazy ending and his son Colonel Aurelio Buendia same insanity stance and later death. We cannot find excuse in terminating other human lives just by the mere proclamation of peace and freedom sentiments from a few with disguised interests (Smarr 81).
The right to pursue happiness, access to food, water and shelter, enjoy freedom of speech and do what one feels is good to all the public are some of the eternal pillars of well founded society. Garcia on this level focuses on the characters like Rebecca who is raised in Buendia’s family.
Rebecca is representation of failures of human nature and tendencies having to go through difficult situations so that she could survive. If the society had ensured access to water and shade on equal basis then why it is people like her have not to benefit from such claims.
In his life the author points out to the many human injustices that are present in Macondo as an image of Latin American society. Since the entry of human civilization in Macondo and modernity the question of human basic rights arises.
Why is that some person have what they need at the expense of the common man who is lost between the truth and fantasy in Macondo. Garcia’s bringing up in Aracataca is mirrored in this novel depicting the poverty and dilapidation that the town slipped in the face of capitalism.
In this sense, the author critics’ capitalism results in Latin America letting it known that it is the most dehumanizing form of ideology while on the other hand communist dictatorship tendencies like that portrayed by Arcadio have ruined Latin America’s pursuit of general progress and social order (Smith 268).
In the text open incest in the greatest family, the Buendia’s is largely found to espouse solitude characteristics with the tendencies of over family bonding resulting to family genetic aberrations. From the greatest ever lived Buendia, the search for wisdom in almost clandestine manner leaves him an insane man who transcends from ordinary human qualities to foreign exhibition.
This is clearly indicated by the priest’s announcement that Jose Arcadio Buendia speaks fluent Latin meaning that the pursuit of some ideals in human nature is sanity splintering and that life in its whole context is an institution full of social, historical and daily issues that improper comprehending by any individual would lead to insanity and genetic mutations.
At this juncture, Gabriel may be speaking focusing to Latin America and the human nature in whole like an actor in a play. This is very effective in the novel noting that most characters do not understand their positions in life and their purpose to their society as prophesied by Melquaides in the age old prophecies.
This is the author’s genius use of the riding theme of subjective reality that what is most true and of importance to the characters is only perceived by the reader alone thus inviting the reader to take part in the novel and correct the human race.
It is in the search of individual pursuits that the Village Macondo meets its end in the novel. Jose Arcadio Buendia starts the line by his quest for knowledge. He is followed by his son Colonel Aureliano who fights for equal rights as one of the major characters but in the end he becomes desperate and despaired.
The father ends being tied to a tree and his son locks himself in the laboratories with an attempted suicide legacy in his biography. From these incidences the author seems to comment on the vainness of human search and quest for worldly issues as only a waste of time and energy.
Ursula is depicted as the only character who connects with nature, people and who is probably the strongest by living for so long and exhibiting sound human qualities and nature that as a reader we connect with her thus we take her voice in the novel and learn to trust it.
The presentation of Latin American society in One Hundred Years of Solitude is major criticism of Latin American society and the whole human race at large. Gabriel from his experience as a journalist must have seen the human nature from different angles thus comparing them with his home region to bring out his artistic brilliance.
By alluding to the Holy Bible and the eventual destruction of Macondo we as the readers cannot help but identify probably with Marquez religious perspective and notions.
It is clear that the entry of civilization in Macondo foretells the disintegration and fall of the village. People like Jose Arcadio do not believe in religion so much observed from his sentiments about religion and the relationship with God (Pelayo 89).
It is possible that the law of nature which in Biblical language is the creation from God is the supreme force and that determines the destiny of men. The creation of ideologies, pursuit of knowledge, war and scientific inquiries are only men’s detour from their original destinations outlined in the law of nature.
If we have to believe Gabriel then this deviation from natural law only leads to destruction, despair and eventual death. Gabriel thus occurs to us as a modern day philosopher who is able to see the whole picture in the frame and live to tell fellow human beings what they sweat for in their lives endeavors.
In conclusion therefore, Latin America must therefore wake up and desist from destruction and despair. The celebrations of solitary politics are just voracious human sentiments meant for eventual decay and crumble.
The world at large must recognize such futile issues and steer clear if humanity will achieve true progress, democracy and freedom encapsulated in individual’s satisfaction and happiness. The search for unified solution starts from an individual’s completeness and sincere outlook towards the daily struggles for a better future as encapsulated by Garcia Gabriel.
Works Cited
Bell-Villada, H. Gene. Gabriel García Márquez’s One hundred years of solitude: a casebook. Oxford, Oxford University Press US, 2002.Print.
“Gabriel García Márquez.” Web.
Pelayo, Ruben. Gabriel García Márquez: a critical companion: Critical companions to popular contemporary writers Greenwood Professional Guides in School Librarianship. Westport, Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001. Print
Smarr, L. Janet. Historical criticism and the challenge of theory. Illinois, University of Illinois Press, 1993. Print.
Smith, Verity. Concise encyclopedia of Latin American Literature. London, Taylor & Francis, 2000.Print.