Act Reading Journal #6

ments of Magical Realism

- “When Amaranta went into the kitchen and put her hadn into the coals of the stove until it hurt her so much that she flet no more pain but instead smelled the pestilence of her own singed flesh.”(p.110) I think it is a magical realism because the story suddenly turned out very dramatic and violent and the way she thought what she would do was so unexpected and horrible.

II. Characters

1. Aureliano Buendia – goes to the war and leaves his son in Macondo.
2. Arcadio – is left in Macondo by his father and takes power in Macondo with cruelty.
3. Ursula – disagrees with what Arcadio is doing.
4. Pietro Crespi – asks Amaranta to marry him but is rejected and kills himself.
5. Amaranta – rejects Pietro’s proposal and is shock by his death and burns his hand.
6. Pilar Ternera – insulted by her son by his attempts to sleep with her, but sends him a girl.

III. Plot Summery

- After Aureliano becomes a leader of the Liberal army, he leaves his family to go to war. He leaves his son, Arcadio in the town and let the town to be a father for him. Later, Arcadio becomes a dictator in the town. He tries to handle everything in his own order and even tries to sleep with his mother, Pilar Ternera. However she sends him a girl, Santa Sofia de la Piedad and he gets married. They have three children after marriage, Remedios, Aureliano Segundo, and Jose Arcadio Segundo. While some of them in Macondo were having happy time, the army loses the battle and the Conservatives conquer Macondo. Still with the cruelty, Arcadio rules Macondo. While those things were happening, Pietro Crespi asks Amaranta to marry him, but she rejects it. With a great sadness, Pietro suicides. Amaranta is shock with Pietro’s death and burns her hand.

IV. Quotes

1.”I am not a Buenda.”(p.111) I think it shows one man that blinded in power and it impressed me how much a person can change by his or her desire.

2.”There’s been enough madness.” (p.117) I totally agree with this. Even though it is not related to all of the situations, I just agree that this story has been went on with enough madness.

V. Theme

1. Power – It is played in this chapter by Arcaido’s becoming of dictator.

2. Violence in emotion and action – It is played by Pietro’s suicide and Amaranta burning her hand.

3. Breakdown of Family – it is played by each character’s different way of living and desires.