Solitude

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Recommended: Isolation in "one hundred" years of solitude

"No man is an island." This famous quotation explains the nature of man as a social being. It is truly a fact that human beings cannot exist in isolation. They need to be interdependent with each other in order to survive. This interdependence is needed because a human being alone will not be able to fill his own social needs, and his material necessities came from other people as well. All acts of society such as sex, love, and dependence are essential for the survival of any species. Interaction and socialization is the only way to prevent people from isolation, from solitude.

The last words in One Hundred Years of Solitude are: races condemned to one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth. These words are so powerful and striking that one cannot doubt its truth. The book also wants to show that men need to interact and socialize with others in order for their race to survive.

Solitude is a major theme in the book, as is evident from the title. Here, solitude doesn't necessarily mean loneliness; it is a fated seclusion by space or some neurotic obsession. It is the sense of being apart from others. Examples of solitude can be found in the one-hundred-year life of Macondo and the Buendia family. It is both emotional and physical solitude that is shown geographically, romantically, and individually. Each character has his or her own particular solitude. It seems that it is always the intent of the characters to be alone, and there are even those who deliberately cut themselves off from the society. These are the characters that are contrasted to others who combat solitude by doing strenuous effort to reach out to others. This is not the case, though, for the solitary characters in One Hundre...

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...om. Fernanda is like a widow during her marriage with Aureliano Segundo because her husband loves his mistres over her. And maybe those who have the most tragic fate are those who are captivated by Remedios the Beauty's beauty and loving her so much after, and die surprising deaths.

Solitude, whether it be any kind of solitude, the book One Hundred Years of Solitude reminds us that people needs interaction to survive. Even though the characters are unaware of the unfortunate fate that has befallen upon them, they displayed their solitude realistically and not as if by mere cause of fate. Because of this, Marquez is able to impart to the readers the consequences of secluding or isolating oneself from others without the idea that it is not possible. Here, Marquez is able to display even the most simple acts of solitude, and the unfortunate consequences of it.

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