The Magic of One Hundred Years of Solitude
The mystical town of Mocondo brings new hope, fantasy and a never ending ride for the people who live there. Jose Arcadio Buendia, the main character in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967), yearns for a life of magic and new discovery, so in his seeking he uncovers the town of Mocondo. "...A village of twenty adobe houses, built on the bank of a river of clear water that ran along a bed of polished stones, which were white and enormous, like prehistoric eggs" (1). He watches the rise and fall of his town over the period of almost one hundred years before he passes on. The town sees everything from gypsies and their startling discoveries to war and its aftermath. All of the many characters are anything but normal, ranging from having seventeen children to being born with pig-like tails. Marquez makes the reader's imagination run wild with all of the strange things that happen, with his style of writing...magical realism.
As a child, it is very easy to have an imagination and it does not seem a difficult task to envision flying carpets and men with two heads; but as a person grows older this imagination seems to pack its bags and head out the door. Although with Marquez's book, the imagination comes running back begging for more. It is hard to separate real from fantasy in his book as he melts things together so well. An excellent example takes place on page twenty-two:
...he had been born...with cartilaginous tail in the shape
of a corkscrew and with a small tuft of hair on the tip. A
pig's tail that was never allowed to be seen by any woman
and that cost him his life when a butcher friend did him the
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... happen. It did, although, not quite as quickly...the cow bore triplets two months later. This started becoming a trend for whatever kind of animal they bought, or already had. Their barn became overflowing, and it was extremely difficult to keep tabs on. This was good for them though, as they became rich from selling their livestock, without trouble.
Somehow, throughout the four hundred forty-eight pages in this book, the author keeps feeding the imagination without padding any aspects. He writes so well, that once a person starts to get caught up in the story, there is no coming back. Even if a person thinks that they are beyond help with repairing the creative side of the brain, there is hope with One Hundred Years of Solitude.
Bibliography
Marquez, Gabriel G. One Hundred Years of Solitude. Argentina: Editorial Sudamericanos, 1967.
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...e gods and goddesses who changed his fate (ex. Poseidon, Calypso, Circle). He learned very many valuable lessons over the course of the epic all thanks to these unfortunate events. Telemachus was also affected by the suitors, who were the biggest reason for his change into a man. They were the main conflict in the story for him and they also played a small role in affecting the changes of his father. Without the suitors, abuse of xenia could not have been displayed, Telemachus would not have had much reason to mature and there would not have been as much interest in the book for readers.
T.S. Eliot once suggested that there were `three voices of poetry,' so it may be wise to begin by asking what is meant by the term `voice,' and what is meant by the term `vision?' Voice is an expression that has a variety of meanings - it could refer to the persona the poet adopts whilst writing the poem; it could refer to the author's style; the author's tone; or the characteristics of the speaker in the poem. With regards to this essay I will assume that `voice' refers to both the writer's style, and the writer's tone. Conversely, the term `vision' can be more easily defined as the author's purpose in writing the poem, and any messages or themes conveyed to the reader. The two poems that I will make reference to are `Assisi' by Norman MacCaig, and `Glasgow 5 March 1971' by Edwin Morgan. By comparing the poet's style and tone in these poems it can be seen that both writers have a similar `vision.'
Marquez used Magical Realism elements to showcase supernatural beings, and to teach valuable lessons. Within the themes of both stories a strong moral component is found. To get the point of this moral across, Marquez uses distinct writing techniques. He paints the picture of his setting through his descriptive language, but, not all of his stories are exactly the same! This is what makes them such a delight to read; the different workings that make up each individual story are beautiful on their own, but can be compared to each other.
...ent of Telemachus is amazing in the fact that it happened in such a short period of time. Each and every time he met a different person or was in a different situation that forced him to become socially instead of his usual distant self. He was able to adjust and alter himself to become better. In an anthropological way he was performing natural selection on his own. When he was home in Ithica with the suitors crawling around, he was unable to connect himself to anything, which evidently caused him to suffer by losing control. When he met Athena for the first time, she made him adapt and change to what she wanted him to be. With her guidance and encouragement, Telemachus was able to go even further and adapt to what King Nestor had told him, and soon enough what had led to meeting Menelaus. All of these encounters with people helped him become the man he is now.
...ks, the distaff and the loom, and keep the women working hard as well.. I hold the reins of power in this house'” (Homer 89). With a shock, his mother followed his order and this shocked some suitors as well. “Discreet Telemachus took command: ' You suitors who plague my mother, you, you insolent, overweening... You must leave my palace! But if you decide fare is better... carve away'” (Homer 89). He still hasn't quite won yet because he wasn't able to actually throw them out by himself, so the suitors still look down on him. However, a huge change was shown through Telemachus. He actually gained the courage to say something, which is a really good sign. After he said something, he finally took action to go look for his father himself. Without a doubt, Athena's visit was the element that allowed Telemachus begin doing something about his life and make some changes.
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Style: The typical Magical- Realistic story of García Márquez placed in a familiar environment where supernatural things take place as if they were everyday occurrences. Main use of long and simple sentences with quite a lot of detail. "There were only a few faded hairs left on his bald skull and very few teeth in his mouth, and his pitiful condition of a drenched great-grandfather took away and sense of grandeur he might have had" (589).
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