Active Reading Chapter 8

Magical Elements:

• The time is changing, from no technology to all kinds of technology. There are telegraphs and stuff like that. Yet, not much time has passed for such inventions to be used. It went like from the sixteenth century to like twentieth century.
  

Characters:

§ Aureliano Jose – fascinated by his aunt Amaranta’s body – used to take baths with her – started a relationship with her that included caresses, and sleeping naked in the hammock together, and kissing
§ Amaranta – had a playful weird relationship with Aureliano Jose – cut it off after she realized that this was not supposed to be happening

Summary:

§ It starts off talking about the relationship of Aureliano Jose and Amaranta. Then it tells about the secret armistice, for peace terms in exchange for three seats in Congress. Colonel Aureliano is against it, and he leaves with Roque Carnicero and Gerineldo Marquez in the dead of the night. Aureliano Jose left with them. It was years after they left that Ursula heard from her son, after Vistacion died. He was in Cuba.
§ Macondo had a mayor, General Jose Raquel Moncada, who helped Macondo prosper even more. Ursula had her pastry business grow, and filled her gourds with pure gold. Then one day, Aureliano Jose showed up after leaving his dad, and with him, he bought a determination to marry Amaranta. She did her best to avoid him as much as possible.
§ A woman came to Macondo, bringing with her a five year old boy, who was the son of Colonel Aureliano, and a spitting image of his father. They named him Aureliano. But more sons came, all sons of Colonel Aureliano, who had been born to virgins that their mothers had sent to the soldier’s bedrooms. It turned out seventeen sons.
§ Aureliano gave up on his aunt, and went around not doing much. He knew his mother was Pilar, and he often went to her home. One day, Pilar told him to stay at home, for she saw death in her cards. He went to the theater, and consequently got shot. The one who shot him was also killed.
§ Colonel Aureliano came back, and was determined to destroy the Conservative Party. The party was sentenced to death, and so was Jose Raquel. Ursula tried to intercede on his behalf, but was unsuccessful. Colonel Aureliano went to go see him, and promised to return his belongings to his wife. Then, he gave the order to shot Jose Raquel.

Quotes:

§ “’As long as God gives me life,’ [Ursula] would say, ‘there will always be money in this madhouse.’” It is just funny for me to read that, so that is why it stood out.

§ “’Long live the Liberal Party! Long live Colonel Aureliano Buendia!’” Well, it stood out because I had thought that Colonel Aureliano only fought for his pride and not for the Liberal party.

Themes:

§ Incest: Aureliano Jose is in love with his aunt Amaranta. They do some things together, but they are still related.