One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Dear Jose Arcadio Buendia,
What interests you so much in all of your inventions? When you hear something about a new phenomenon, you do all that it takes to experience it. Is it that you are easily swayed, or have a high interest in it, or are you trying to prove yourself? Or is it simply your niche and just what you do out of habit? And why do you not care at all about what your wife and family think? You know your son is running off with a hooker and it upsets your wife, yet you do nothing to stop him or comfort her. And you also know that your wife does not want to do some of the things that you ask her to do, but you still make her do them. I guess maybe it was just the times? But you seem selfish. You do not accept that your younger son isn't interested in alchemy as you are, and you force him to be. He wants to make his own name, like you want to make yours. At least your first born wants to help in the family business. And about that business and your wife, you carelessly spent her entire fortune trying to double the gold, and you didn't apologize for it. Are you really that selfish? Or is she just being to understanding and not hard enough on you? I guess I will have to find out.
Monika
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Outside Reading - Week 3, Post A
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The cultural element I noticed in reading this week was the sense of community that everyone in the village had with each other. When Jose Arcadio Buendia decided that it was time to move the village to a better spot in terms of communication with the outside world, everybody believed his reasons and followed him over the mountains in search of the ocean. They named their new village together, and worked together throughout the move. "At the beginning of the road into the swamp they put up a sign that said MACONDO and another larger one on the main street that said GOD EXISTS" (47). In our culture, a family doesn't even move together, different members are split up all across the country, let alone friends moving cross state together.
The cultural element I noticed in reading this week was the sense of community that everyone in the village had with each other. When Jose Arcadio Buendia decided that it was time to move the village to a better spot in terms of communication with the outside world, everybody believed his reasons and followed him over the mountains in search of the ocean. They named their new village together, and worked together throughout the move. "At the beginning of the road into the swamp they put up a sign that said MACONDO and another larger one on the main street that said GOD EXISTS" (47). In our culture, a family doesn't even move together, different members are split up all across the country, let alone friends moving cross state together.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Outside Reading - Week 2, Post B
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Dear Sr. Marquez,
I am interested with this novel, it has started off with quite an unconventional beginning. I am aware that many people like this book, along with your other book Love in the Time of Cholera, and that you have won the Pulitzer Prize for your writing. I am just curious to see where the story goes, or even who it will follow (which character). In the beginning there was a family tree and so far a few of the characters have been incorporated into the plot, but in 100 years, will the main character change? And I did not know if I would be motivated to read this novel, but I am interested so far, the only obstacle is finding the time to read it. I am also fascinated by the setting, being a Spanish speaker and dreaming of going to Mexico to experience the culture. So far, I am somewhat confused on what Jose Arcadio Buendia will do next because he has gone on small, meaningless adventures as of yet. Maybe they will tie together in the end, I guess I will have to continue reading to find out!
Monika
Dear Sr. Marquez,
I am interested with this novel, it has started off with quite an unconventional beginning. I am aware that many people like this book, along with your other book Love in the Time of Cholera, and that you have won the Pulitzer Prize for your writing. I am just curious to see where the story goes, or even who it will follow (which character). In the beginning there was a family tree and so far a few of the characters have been incorporated into the plot, but in 100 years, will the main character change? And I did not know if I would be motivated to read this novel, but I am interested so far, the only obstacle is finding the time to read it. I am also fascinated by the setting, being a Spanish speaker and dreaming of going to Mexico to experience the culture. So far, I am somewhat confused on what Jose Arcadio Buendia will do next because he has gone on small, meaningless adventures as of yet. Maybe they will tie together in the end, I guess I will have to continue reading to find out!
Monika
Outside Reading - Week 2, Post A
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
One cultural difference I noticed was the belief in myths and old wives's tales. In this passage, Ursula's great-great-grandmother believed that pirates would come to attack her, haunted by an experience she had as a child. She became frightened by the ringing of alarms and bells which resulted in her freaking out and igniting herself on the kitchen stove. For the rest of her life, she would be consumed with the irrational fears of random pirate attack, "Finally he sold the business and took the family to live far from the sea in a settlement of peaceful Indians located in the foothills, where he built his wife a bedroom without windows so that the pirates of her dream would have no way to get in" (19).
One cultural difference I noticed was the belief in myths and old wives's tales. In this passage, Ursula's great-great-grandmother believed that pirates would come to attack her, haunted by an experience she had as a child. She became frightened by the ringing of alarms and bells which resulted in her freaking out and igniting herself on the kitchen stove. For the rest of her life, she would be consumed with the irrational fears of random pirate attack, "Finally he sold the business and took the family to live far from the sea in a settlement of peaceful Indians located in the foothills, where he built his wife a bedroom without windows so that the pirates of her dream would have no way to get in" (19).
Global Issue
I have chosen the global issue of treatment of POWs, more specifically in the last 60 years since the Geneva Conventions.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Outside Reading - Week 1, Post B
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
So far, the protagonist in this novel is Jose Arcadio Buendia, and he has a mind of his own. His stubbornness is shown many times, and it is always swayed by the gypsies. In one instance, Jose is convinced that he can multiply gold, and without considering the circumstances he takes his wife's gold and ruins it. He is also stubbornly unreasonable when he tries to make a potion to get the gold back contrary to every one's diminishing faith in him. His mind of his own is also apparent when he finds a new invention. He will always do whatever it takes to try an experiment, sacrificing his family's fortune and home. Jose does not realize that his trial might not work out, so he does whatever it takes to accomplish what he thinks is right. He is also stubborn when it comes to his children, he doesn't understand that they might not want to do what he does, and Jose has trouble accepting that. The final instance of his un-open-mindedness is shown early on with the ice. Jose paid a lot of money to just touch the ice, the greatest invention of mankind says he, and will fight for everything that he believes in no matter how unconventional it is. I suppose you could say he is a risk taker, but I see it more as not seeing clearly.
So far, the protagonist in this novel is Jose Arcadio Buendia, and he has a mind of his own. His stubbornness is shown many times, and it is always swayed by the gypsies. In one instance, Jose is convinced that he can multiply gold, and without considering the circumstances he takes his wife's gold and ruins it. He is also stubbornly unreasonable when he tries to make a potion to get the gold back contrary to every one's diminishing faith in him. His mind of his own is also apparent when he finds a new invention. He will always do whatever it takes to try an experiment, sacrificing his family's fortune and home. Jose does not realize that his trial might not work out, so he does whatever it takes to accomplish what he thinks is right. He is also stubborn when it comes to his children, he doesn't understand that they might not want to do what he does, and Jose has trouble accepting that. The final instance of his un-open-mindedness is shown early on with the ice. Jose paid a lot of money to just touch the ice, the greatest invention of mankind says he, and will fight for everything that he believes in no matter how unconventional it is. I suppose you could say he is a risk taker, but I see it more as not seeing clearly.
Outside Reading - Week 1, Post A
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The differences between American and Mexican cultures that I noticed was in the response to modern technology. There are gypsies that come through town with new inventions and the entire community, including those that are opposed to modernization, comes out to see what new things have been found. One new "invention," among many more absurd, is ice. In America, ice was common at that time period, but in Mexico, without the climate and knowledge, ice is unconventional. The enthusiasm is shown when Jose Arcadio Buendia pays over 30 reales to "touch the cake" (18), and then he exclaims, "'This is the great invention of our time'" (18). An American would never say or think something like that in that time period because they were educated to know the phenomenon of ice even if they hadn't experienced it firsthand.
The differences between American and Mexican cultures that I noticed was in the response to modern technology. There are gypsies that come through town with new inventions and the entire community, including those that are opposed to modernization, comes out to see what new things have been found. One new "invention," among many more absurd, is ice. In America, ice was common at that time period, but in Mexico, without the climate and knowledge, ice is unconventional. The enthusiasm is shown when Jose Arcadio Buendia pays over 30 reales to "touch the cake" (18), and then he exclaims, "'This is the great invention of our time'" (18). An American would never say or think something like that in that time period because they were educated to know the phenomenon of ice even if they hadn't experienced it firsthand.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Outside Reading - Quarter 4, Explanation
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
This book is written by a Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I chose it for a few reasons, the first being its country of origin. In Colombia they speak Spanish, a language that I have been speaking since I was in Kindergarden. I am also familiar with the South American culture through experiences in Spanish class and also through my aunt. She is a Spanish teacher that is very familiar with the Mexican culture, has lived abroad in Spain, and has immersed me in the culture as well through people that she knows and places she's been. Another reason as to why I chose this novel was because other people have reccomended another book by this author, Love in the Time of Cholera. This author is also a nobel prize winner, which speaks volumes about this book. The final reason for me choosing this novel was because a while ago, my friend's dad, a book addict, said, oh read this book, you might want to read it over the summer, it's one of my all time favorites, you would love it. I wanted to check it out, and the opportunity arose when I saw it on our list.
This book is written by a Colombian author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I chose it for a few reasons, the first being its country of origin. In Colombia they speak Spanish, a language that I have been speaking since I was in Kindergarden. I am also familiar with the South American culture through experiences in Spanish class and also through my aunt. She is a Spanish teacher that is very familiar with the Mexican culture, has lived abroad in Spain, and has immersed me in the culture as well through people that she knows and places she's been. Another reason as to why I chose this novel was because other people have reccomended another book by this author, Love in the Time of Cholera. This author is also a nobel prize winner, which speaks volumes about this book. The final reason for me choosing this novel was because a while ago, my friend's dad, a book addict, said, oh read this book, you might want to read it over the summer, it's one of my all time favorites, you would love it. I wanted to check it out, and the opportunity arose when I saw it on our list.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)