García Márquez' novel reveals to us many of the intricacies of life in Hispanic America, its contradictions and mind-bending, reality-stretching, attachment to the absurd.
Are there any particular passages in chapter 1 that you can use to illustrate the above statement?
Mr Beéche
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This has nothing to do with what you are asking of us. But I did not find chapter one as interesting as chapter two. Why is it that Hispanic American parents are so strict when it comes to social class? If your child loves someone who is of lower status, what does it matter? Do parents want their children to be deprived of the life they want? Today, our parents always tell us that happiness and love is way more important than riches. I believe that we should be more focused on working hard and going after what we want. This means pursuing a career that one enjoys or marrying ones sole mate. After reading chapter two, I feel that regardless of Fermina’s situation, I would continue to write letters and pursue a secret relationship with Florentino. I would try to convince my father of Florentino’s worth and the sincere feelings I harbor for this man. If my father were to tell me otherwise, I would not listen to him. Making oneself happy should come first. Also, it disgusts me that Lorenzo, Fermina's father, is a hypocrite. Due to the similar circumstance regarding his past, he should exhibit more compassion and understanding. With this said, Fermina needs to stand strong and listen to her heart. She needs to get a hold of the happiness that is right in front of her.
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ReplyDelete"Fermina," he said, "I have waited for this opportunityfor more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love." (Marquez, 50)
ReplyDeleteWhen I first read that passage (even though YOU told us the whole story before even reading this book), I was surprised to see how upfront and serious Florentino was. This quote shows significance because the reader can already see his characteristics. The reader can see that Florentino is very ambitious, goal-driven, passionate, and PATIENT when he knew his lover was finally free of her husband. On the other hand, this quote greatly shows contradictions and mind-bending, reality-stretching, and attachment to the absurd because no one ever sees that happen. No man in this modern day earth will ever do such a thing (please prove me wrong :]) and show dishonor to the woman of his dreams, given that he loves her and would die for his love for her.
Just in that one scene, the reader can also tell he is crazy. With my discussion topic being said today about chapter 2, Florentino drives himself crazy by eating rose petals and drinking cologne just to remind him of Fermina's smell and beauty. Fermina must have thought he was very crazy when Florentino was rebounding off of her man!
How would this situation apply to some of the many intricacies of the Hispanic American culture presented by Marquez in this novel?
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ReplyDeleteIn chapter one, a serious argument happens that greatly depicts two themes: intricacy and companionship of modern life as well as Hispanic Americans. The scene where Dr. Urbino and Fermina Daza argue triggers many questions for me. Why do people hold grudges over small things? Why do people lack maturity when they’re right/wrong? What creates a stable relationship between two people? Who holds the pants in this relationship? As we read, we find out an argument develops into Dr. Urbino moving out of the house and refusing to return home. A doctor, which can symbolize a modern day middle school teacher, suggests that each of them apologize to each other and forget the whole incident. Even when Dr. Urbino returns home, they still continue be silent for four months. Later, Dr. Urbino confesses for the sake of his featherbed, which is sad because what does this say about a couple who has had a relationship for fifty years?
ReplyDeleteI find that in the novel,by looking at the interactions between Fermina and her family you can see that there seem to be a lot of boundaries surrounding the relationships in Hispanic America and it seems to be a cultural if not "greedy" sense of marriage. For instance the appeal of a man has a lot to do with his family and how prestigious the family is. It is almost as if a woman doesn't necessarily have to marry up in the social ladder, but must NEVER marry down.
ReplyDelete"Only God knows how much I loved you. It was a memorable death, and not without reason." (43) Juvenal Urbino loved his wife very much and when he died he could only think about what misery his wife will have because he is gone. His death was significant because he was one of the most famous doctors the town had. His death was ironic because he didn't like animals but his death was caused by by a parrot. The parrot symbolizes something that Urbino could talk to. He began to give the parrot human attributes by teaching it different languages. He took care of the parrot because he was lonely and he was able to talk to the parrot. This death was improbable in real life because people don't die chasing parrots around. In Latin American culture women are suppose to stay at home and take care of the kids. Fermina married a man of status which is also another teaching of Latin American culture.
ReplyDelete“Only then did she realize that she had slept a long time without dying, sobbing in her sleep, and that while she slept, sobbing, she has thought more about Florentino Ariza then about her dead husband.” (Garcia, 51)
ReplyDeleteI believe this quote illustrates a reality-stretching absurdity because Florentino had not seen Fermina in more than half a century and now he shows up at her husband’s funeral professing his love for her. He had told her that he “waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love.” First of all, it is hard to believe that someone will actually wait 50 years and promise his or her love to someone who was married the entire time. If Fermina truly loved Florentino in the same way, she should have divorced her husband, but the culture and traditions of Hispanic America says otherwise. Fermina had to stay married because of social status. If she married down to a lower class, Fermina and the marriage would be frowned upon. Also, the fact that at night she cries thinking about Florentino rather than her dead husband shows how unhappy she was in her marriage. Why didn’t Fermina follow her heart and go against what Hispanic American culture and tradition says? I believe it was because she did not want others to see her as a low life and was scared how others would view her. But is what others think of you really more important than what your heart and conscience tells you to do? Is social status that much more essential than true love?
In chapter one, it starts off kind of slow and confusing. This is the time that Garcia Marquez used to define each one of his characters. He put a twist to what love is normally about but yet, still gets the readers attention and tries to pull them in. Putting restrictions on love because Hispanic parents are strict and that money is more important. There are too many rules and restrictions on who you can love and actually be with.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to Lauren Chao's question, in my opinion social status isn't much more essential than true love. It shouldn't matter one where a person stands if you truly love them.
I agree with the comments and points stated above. The Hispanic American culture that parents push upon their children are strong. Family and tradition is their life. It must be very hard for the younger generation to follow and understand their parents' reasoning of obscurity, especially on the topic of love. I think that each individual should be allowed the freedom to choose who they want to be with. It is okay for parents and family to give their input on the situation/relationship, but I don't think that they should be the ones who decide, especially when the end event does not personally affect them. The individual should make this important situation since in their culture, divorce is "not allowed". Love is love, no matter what color, social status, etc. Everyone should be like Zack, color-blind, race-blind, gender-blind, and so on. That is the best way to perceive others, without judgment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jamie. I believe the fact that children are prevented from pursuing their own interests is purely unethical. Parents should understand that their children's generation is totally different from theirs.
ReplyDeleteChelsea says hi and she loves you! :)
The passage where where Doctor Urbino tries so hard to get his parrot up in the tree and dies doing so. I find this passage funny because it seems surreal that parrot can speak and understand so many languages. Not only that but after disliking animals for so long this one parrot causes the death for the Doctor, just because he loves this parrot as a friend.
ReplyDeleteIn this book love plays a key role and creates the intricacies between Fermina, Dr. Urbino, and Florentino. The first chapter however, doesn't reveal much back round into the lives and love stories of Fermina, Florentino, and Dr. Urbino. There is a quote that Hartley had used and i agree with. It said that, "Fermina," he said, "I have waited for this opportunity for more than half a century, to repeat to you once again my vow of eternal fidelity and everlasting love." (Marquez, 50). This quote shows how absurd it seemed that after all of these years Florentino was willing to just show Fermina his love, without even really talking to her.
ReplyDeleteIn response to some of Lauren’s questions, I think that it’s more important to follow your heart and conscience, but sometimes due to all the pressure, it can be extremely difficult. Fermina believed that she could not follow her heart due to her Hispanic American culture and traditions. She wanted to look good in the eyes of everyone else rather than looking good in her own eyes. In other words, she gave her life up to satisfy others. I do not believe that this was necessary because I think if Fermina did follow her heart, she would eventually still satisfy everyone else in the end if they understood her situation. Why would it matter how others would think if you already found real happiness with true love? I believe someone not listening to their own heart may be the biggest mistake of their life because I don’t think anyone should have to live for someone else, especially when deep inside the person doesn’t want to.
ReplyDeletein regards to what rosalesn said I feel that tradition is something that stands an important par of the Hispanic culture. Unlike Americans we all come from different backgrounds and haven't brought their traditions to America. I feel that fermina does not want to let down her family and her culture because she may be looked down upon and that is one thing she fears. But little does she know she will regret her decision to force her to fall in love with someone else and marry him when her heart really belongs to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI agree with hartley an katie. I mean really... how could you love someone that much without being with the person? Florentino is a very affectionate man. Although these is quality we look for in a good relationship, too much affection may lead to obsession. I don't blame Fermina for reacting the way she did. She did not expect to hear that right after burying her husband. Florentino can't expect to get the same amount of love from her and I believe that his obsession prevents him from seeing that.
ReplyDeleteReferring to the academy Fermina attended, “In any event, it was an expensive school, and the fact that Fermina Daza studied there was sufficient indication of her family’s economic situation, if not its social position.”
ReplyDeleteDuring the time this novel, Love in the Time of Cholera took place, the social class and wealth of a person played a significant part in their role in society. Fermina was born into a family of both wealth and high social class. On the other hand, Florentino made a sum of money as a telegraph boy. Although Florentino was not poor, his social position made his relationship with Fermina and unsuccessful one. Even though Fermina’s father faced a similar situation in his past, he did not allow Fermina to follow her own heart and make her own mistakes.
It seems that Hispanic American families want their young women to either marry men in the same social class, or above. Like Phil said, it seems disgraceful for women to marry men of lower class. Fermina, at a young age, was heavily pressured by her father to ditch Florentino because he was from a lower social class. Social classes seem to be in a higher priority than love in the Hispanic American tradition.
ReplyDeleteFermina's father represents a reminder of this tradition. He pulled Fermina away from love and into the mindset of marrying into equal or greater social classes. Assuming that Fermina's father has passed away (since Fermina is very old now), the restriction to social classes is gone, but the mindset of the tradition is not. The idea of social status over love seems to be embedded generation after generation.
“while she [Fermina] slept sobbing, she had thought more about Florentino Ariza than about her dead husband." (Marquez 51)
The quote shows that the tradition is weakening. Perhaps the tradition becomes weaker and weaker every generation until one day love becomes a greater priority than social classes. In this case, Fermina may break the tradition.
I really like the quote that Lauren chose and I would also choose that quote also. The Hispanic culture has a very unique way of interaction. Since they lived in cities, everyone knew eachother. This is the reason why Fermina was not able to Florentino. Because Florentino was not of the upper class, Fermina's father was against their love which actually takes place in Chapter 2. Why is it that she would deny her life long happiness with the love of her life for the acceptance of her father?
ReplyDeleteKnowing that Fermina does eventually choose Florentino means that she does give up traditional values for her true love. She chooses him after obeying her father and living a somewhat happy life. She never followed her heart until after her husband had died so I think she had the right to follow her heart in the end.
“In any event, it was an expensive school, and the fact that Fermina Daza studied there was sufficient indication of her family’s economic situation, if not its social position.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote represents how important your economic status was in Hispanic America. Fermina was apart of the upper class, while Florentino was of a lower class. That is why it was difficult for them to express their relationship to the public because they knew they werent going to be accepted.
in chapter 3,
ReplyDeletefermina seems to find love?!
do you think her and Dr. Urbino will last throughout the novel? or will florentino ruin their relationship?
( just curious about other people opinions )
While reading, one quote really stood out to me and is also relevant to the above statement. The quote is “Each man is master of his own death, and all that we can do when the time comes is to help him die without fear of pain.”(10) This quote stood out as a reality-stretching quote because it made me see death in a different way. It made me think of death almost as a positive thing rather than tragic and mournful. It made me realize that we are all incontrol of our death and the only thing we can do is accept. Accept the fact that one day, everyone that we love and care is going to die. When someone is dying all we can do on their final days, is to show them love and compassion. Virtues in which we should always perform to those we love.
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