As I had said in my first post "After reading this section, I think that a big theme is aging and death." This theme really kept up throughout the whole book. During most of the book Florentino, Fermina, Dr. Urbino and many others kept thinking about how much they had aged. They would compare their own aging with that of old lovers after meeting for the first time in a while. Death was what became of Dr. Urbino, Olimpia, América, Jeremiah, Florentino's mother. It is a big theme because people in the book had to deal with the deaths of people that they loved and with facing death in their old age.
Another major concept throughout the whole book is lying. Lying tends to cause trouble in peoples lives and especially when it is made public. Lying did cause trouble for Fermina when the local newspaper created gossip about a secret love affair between Dr. Urbino Daza, Fermina's son, and Lucretia. Lucretia retreated from the public after it was published and Fermina took that as a guilty move which caused emotional feelings for her. Florentino even feels that he should lie to Fermina about his virginity before he makes love to her.
All in all this book was confusing but good. The beginning was the most confusing because of the way it was written and how the characters were introduced. Then the book got gradually easier to understand even thought the plot was getting larger. As Gabriel Márquez wound us through the lives of Florentino and Fermina, I was hoping for a dramatic ending, but expecting a subtle one. What I got was a little of both. The part about Fermina and Florentino loving each other again was expected, but what was surprising was that they were going to be stuck on a boat in a river because of their own "brilliant thinking."
What about you Sasha? what do you think of the book and what were you expecting for the ending?
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
LITTOC post 3. Abundant Affairs
As the story progressed I started to realize that a major theme in this book is finding self-worth. When I say this I am mainly speaking about Florentino because he felt that he needed to matter in the world after being rejected by Fermina. He started seeing women after realizing that he would not be able to have Fermina until Dr. Urbino was dead. His way of having self-worth was to be with as many women as possible. Florentino had over 10 lovers, that I could count, from the time that he was rejected until Dr. Urbino died. He even had a lover who was just 14 and "Entrusted by her family to Florentino Ariza as her guardian and recognized blood relative."
Another theme that comes from Florentino's lovers is betrayal. Many of the women that he had relationships with were married, so they were having affairs. One of the most extreme cases of betrayal was when florentino was trying to have an affair with Olimpia Zuleta who was newly married. When Florentino wrote something (inappropriate) on Olimpia's stomach and her husband saw it, her husband immediately killed her. Another betrayal that happened in this section was when Dr. Urbino was having an affair with Barbara Lynch. Fermina was so furious with Urbino that she left to Hidlebranda's ranch with her kids.
Why do you think that Fermina came back to Dr. Urbino after he begged her to come back? Why would she do that if she knew that he had had and affair during their relationship?
Another theme that comes from Florentino's lovers is betrayal. Many of the women that he had relationships with were married, so they were having affairs. One of the most extreme cases of betrayal was when florentino was trying to have an affair with Olimpia Zuleta who was newly married. When Florentino wrote something (inappropriate) on Olimpia's stomach and her husband saw it, her husband immediately killed her. Another betrayal that happened in this section was when Dr. Urbino was having an affair with Barbara Lynch. Fermina was so furious with Urbino that she left to Hidlebranda's ranch with her kids.
Why do you think that Fermina came back to Dr. Urbino after he begged her to come back? Why would she do that if she knew that he had had and affair during their relationship?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
LITTOC #3: Giving up Everything for Love
When you described Dr. Urbino and how much time and effort he dedicated to helping the community deal with cholera, you said was "a very giving man." He had a high economic status, a very impressive reputation, and was known throughout the community. Because he had so much authority, I was surprised when Fermina called him a "hopeless weakling...made strong by the weight of his family names" (p 207). While he was professional and authoritative in all other areas of his life, when it came to his mother, Dr. Urbino would not stand up to her on his wife's behalf. If I were Fermina I would be frustrated and probably think of him as a weakling as well.
Similarly to theme I discussed in my previous post about how love can result in pain and making sacrifices for love, Florentino continued to make sacrifices and chase after Fermina. At the beginning of chapter 4, Florentino decided he was somehow going to win Fermina. "He did not even stop to think about the obstacle of her being married" (p 165). It seems to me that everything Florentino did with his life was somehow the result of his feelings for Fermina. He decided to get a job and make money so he could gain as much status and wealth as Dr. Urbino. Florentino's employer, his uncle, never suspected "his nephew's courage did not come from the need to survive or from a brute indifference inherited from his father, but from a driving need for love" ( p 167). He then had 622 relationships to help him drive away he thoughts of Fermina and settle for the pleasures of love making. To answer your question Kai, I actually think Florentino is kind of pathetic and a hopeless romantic. Although she may have not been in love with her husband, Fermina was married. At that point, Florentino should have given up and moved on. He should have stopped living for someone other than himself. Near the end of chapter 14, Fermina pities Florentino and declares what she thinks of him: "It is as if he were not a person but only a shadow" (p 204). He spent half a century of his life wasted while he waited for her, only to be rejected once again.
While Florentino is wallowing in misery as he waits for Dr. Urbino to die, what is happening to Fermina at this point in the book? Although the community sees Fermina and her husband as "the happiest couple," both privately show signs that they aren't very happy in their marriage. If Fermina didn't really love Dr. Urbino, why did she choose him over Florentino?
Sunday, February 19, 2012
LITTOC post 2
This section really starts to explain why the author named the book, "Love in the Time of Cholera." We learn that a cholera epidemic has killed many people in Dr. Urbino's city including his own father. After Dr. Urbino's father dies he decides to learn everything there is to know about cholera and try to help. Based on the fact that Dr. Urbino dedicated all of his time to helping his community with the cholera epidemic, you could say that he was a very giving man. Another clue that supports why the author titled the book "Love in the Time of Cholera" was that Dr. Urbino actually met his future wife when he was testing her for cholera.
Sasha, that is a very good question. There were many people who had to give up things for the sake of love, including Dr. Urbino. One example of people sacrificing things for love is when Florentino almost lost his job and got very sick because he was so obsessed with Fermina. Another good example is Dr. Urbino who messes some things up just for the sake of love. In chapter three Dr. Urbino's "Mother asked him in alarm where in the world he had been, for they had looked everywhere for him so that he could attend Gernal Ignacio María's [funeral], who had been struck down that afternoon by a cerebral hemorrage." This shows how Dr. Urbino affected others negatively, meaning he let someone who was sick, die by spending too much time with Fermina.
Although Florentino felt content without Fermina after his experiences on the boat and when he arrived in the city, he still was obsessed with Fermina 50 years later. Florentino confuses me because he keeps changing his mind about his love for Fermina. Sasha how do you feel about Florentino and his strange ways of making himself content?
Sasha, that is a very good question. There were many people who had to give up things for the sake of love, including Dr. Urbino. One example of people sacrificing things for love is when Florentino almost lost his job and got very sick because he was so obsessed with Fermina. Another good example is Dr. Urbino who messes some things up just for the sake of love. In chapter three Dr. Urbino's "Mother asked him in alarm where in the world he had been, for they had looked everywhere for him so that he could attend Gernal Ignacio María's [funeral], who had been struck down that afternoon by a cerebral hemorrage." This shows how Dr. Urbino affected others negatively, meaning he let someone who was sick, die by spending too much time with Fermina.
Although Florentino felt content without Fermina after his experiences on the boat and when he arrived in the city, he still was obsessed with Fermina 50 years later. Florentino confuses me because he keeps changing his mind about his love for Fermina. Sasha how do you feel about Florentino and his strange ways of making himself content?
Friday, February 17, 2012
LITTOC #2: Love Causing Pain/"Sickness"
One of the main themes that I'm predicting will appear throughout the book is the pain that can result from love.
One example of when this theme is expressed is in Florentino's love-sickness for Fermina. When he first falls in love with her, he tries to see her as often as he can. He spends all his time thinking about her and writing her pages and pages of letters. After he gives her the first letter, he becomes anxious as he waits for her answer. Being away from her makes him lovesick. The possibility that she may reject makes him lovesick. He actually drinks cologne and eats roses because they remind him of Fermina. Florentino becomes sick and his mother actually thinks (at first) that he has cholera because his symptoms are actually those of a sick person. To Fermino, his need for Fermina "is a matter of life and death" (chapter 2). When he is away from her or can't have her, he becomes depressed and even sick.
A second example of love causing pain is when Florentino gets arrested when he is accused of being a spy and sending messages through his violin playing (even though he is just serenading Fermina). As a result, he spends three nights in jail and was lucky to not get executed. At the end of his jail sentence is actually feels somewhat like a martyr because he suffered love.
So far in this book, multiple people have made sacrifices in the name of love. Kai, who were some of those people and what did they sacrifice? Did it bring pain to them or the people around them? (Hint: Fermina's Aunt, Fermino, etc.)
One example of when this theme is expressed is in Florentino's love-sickness for Fermina. When he first falls in love with her, he tries to see her as often as he can. He spends all his time thinking about her and writing her pages and pages of letters. After he gives her the first letter, he becomes anxious as he waits for her answer. Being away from her makes him lovesick. The possibility that she may reject makes him lovesick. He actually drinks cologne and eats roses because they remind him of Fermina. Florentino becomes sick and his mother actually thinks (at first) that he has cholera because his symptoms are actually those of a sick person. To Fermino, his need for Fermina "is a matter of life and death" (chapter 2). When he is away from her or can't have her, he becomes depressed and even sick.
A second example of love causing pain is when Florentino gets arrested when he is accused of being a spy and sending messages through his violin playing (even though he is just serenading Fermina). As a result, he spends three nights in jail and was lucky to not get executed. At the end of his jail sentence is actually feels somewhat like a martyr because he suffered love.
So far in this book, multiple people have made sacrifices in the name of love. Kai, who were some of those people and what did they sacrifice? Did it bring pain to them or the people around them? (Hint: Fermina's Aunt, Fermino, etc.)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Love in the Time of Cholera #1: Fermina's Reaction to Florentino's Declaration of Love
Kai, I was wondering the exact same thing and I would love to write an entire post to answer your question because it's such a great one.
At first, I thought Florentino was creepy and stalker when he confessed his everlasting love for Fermina right after her husband had died. He hadn't had contact with her for half a century, and tracking her down and spontaneously announcing his love for her seemed quite abrupt to me. I thought Fermina's reaction was especially interesting. She told him to "get out of here" and "don't show your face again for the years that are left to you" (p 50). If she had no interest in him whatsoever, then why would he bother admitting his love?? After reading this I decided there was probably much more to this story.
Reading on, the love story of Florentino and Fermina revealed itself. When Fermina's father found out, he was completely appalled. He was so completely opposed to their getting married that he took Fermina off on a "demented" trip for a year and a half (p 83). For Mr. Daza, the purpose of the trip was to ensure Fermina would forget about Florentino completely. After Mr. Daza's wife had died, he had made it his life's goal to "turn his daughter into a great lady" (p 81). Florentino was getting in the way of that dream. After her father had rejected Florentino, Fermina had spent much of her life pressured to forget Florentino. It was her father's obsession and I'm guessing that after a while, Fermina accepted it as well.
Although Fermina may have loved Florentino, she left him behind and married another man. She became the woman her father wanted her to be. I think it was inconsiderate for Florentino to come barging in on her life, trying to bring back the old life that had been buried in a half century of a new one. Even if Fermina still loved Florentino and wanted to dig up that old life, I'm sure her reaction was a display of her hesitance due to the new life she had created for herself. I definitely would have hesitant as well. What about you, Kai? Do you think it was "right" of Florentino to come barging in on Fermina's life?
At first, I thought Florentino was creepy and stalker when he confessed his everlasting love for Fermina right after her husband had died. He hadn't had contact with her for half a century, and tracking her down and spontaneously announcing his love for her seemed quite abrupt to me. I thought Fermina's reaction was especially interesting. She told him to "get out of here" and "don't show your face again for the years that are left to you" (p 50). If she had no interest in him whatsoever, then why would he bother admitting his love?? After reading this I decided there was probably much more to this story.
Reading on, the love story of Florentino and Fermina revealed itself. When Fermina's father found out, he was completely appalled. He was so completely opposed to their getting married that he took Fermina off on a "demented" trip for a year and a half (p 83). For Mr. Daza, the purpose of the trip was to ensure Fermina would forget about Florentino completely. After Mr. Daza's wife had died, he had made it his life's goal to "turn his daughter into a great lady" (p 81). Florentino was getting in the way of that dream. After her father had rejected Florentino, Fermina had spent much of her life pressured to forget Florentino. It was her father's obsession and I'm guessing that after a while, Fermina accepted it as well.
Although Fermina may have loved Florentino, she left him behind and married another man. She became the woman her father wanted her to be. I think it was inconsiderate for Florentino to come barging in on her life, trying to bring back the old life that had been buried in a half century of a new one. Even if Fermina still loved Florentino and wanted to dig up that old life, I'm sure her reaction was a display of her hesitance due to the new life she had created for herself. I definitely would have hesitant as well. What about you, Kai? Do you think it was "right" of Florentino to come barging in on Fermina's life?
Sunday, February 12, 2012
LITTOC post 1
When I first started reading this book it was extremely confusing and hard to follow. I had only a faint idea of what was happening. After reading further it was easier to understand what was happening, but nothing was explained with a deeper background, which probably means that this book will be answering "the background" questions later on.
After reading this section, I think that a big theme is aging and death. The very beginning of this book starts with the death of Dr. Urbino's friend, Jeremiah de Saint-Amour, who had committed suicide. He had supposably done that because he was afraid of getting really old or aging. Another event that has to do with death is when Dr. Urbino had to have all of his wife's animals killed because a dog had infected many of them with rabies. The last thing that was extremely surprising was that Dr. Urbino himself died when trying to get his parrot. All I could think of at that point was, who kills off the main character in the beginning of the book? I realized that Dr. Urbino is probably not the main character even though he was in the first chapter.
After realizing that Dr. Urbino was not the main character I figured that Florentino Ariza was the main character because of how extensive the author explained his background. Florentino seems to be an obsessive man because he stalked Fermina Daza when he was young and after he had an affair with her, he thought about her everyday for over fifty years. Thats pretty creepy if you ask me. He was so in love that his godfather said that he had cholera, but he only had love sickness and he almost lost his job because of his love.
Why do you think that Fermina just decides that her love for Florentino is an illusion?
After reading this section, I think that a big theme is aging and death. The very beginning of this book starts with the death of Dr. Urbino's friend, Jeremiah de Saint-Amour, who had committed suicide. He had supposably done that because he was afraid of getting really old or aging. Another event that has to do with death is when Dr. Urbino had to have all of his wife's animals killed because a dog had infected many of them with rabies. The last thing that was extremely surprising was that Dr. Urbino himself died when trying to get his parrot. All I could think of at that point was, who kills off the main character in the beginning of the book? I realized that Dr. Urbino is probably not the main character even though he was in the first chapter.
After realizing that Dr. Urbino was not the main character I figured that Florentino Ariza was the main character because of how extensive the author explained his background. Florentino seems to be an obsessive man because he stalked Fermina Daza when he was young and after he had an affair with her, he thought about her everyday for over fifty years. Thats pretty creepy if you ask me. He was so in love that his godfather said that he had cholera, but he only had love sickness and he almost lost his job because of his love.
Why do you think that Fermina just decides that her love for Florentino is an illusion?
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