One Hundred Years of Solitude Opening Lesson 29

One Hundred Years of Solitude Opening Lesson 29 August 2012

The Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez Born in Arcataca, Columbia in 1928 Early years were spent with extended family in his grandfather’s house Environment deeply affected him Mirrored grandmother’s style Nearly became famous as a journalist, but scandalized government—exiled to Europe Moved to Caracas in 1958 and married “the most interesting person” he had ever known She was 13

Background continued… Became friends with Fidel Castro Solved his Macondo puzzle in 1965 while traveling through Mexico Sequestered himself for 18 months and penned One Hundred Years of Soltitude Awarded the Nobel Prize in 1982 and was welcomed home to Columbia with great honors

Historical Time Frame Origins of Colombia Original inhabitants were conquered by the Spanish in 1530 Lay under Spanish rule for 300 years, blending Spanish, Indian, and African influences After attempted struggle for independence, it became Gran Columbia, but fell apart when Ecuador and Venezuela formed separate nations Rife with political strife in 19 th century— 2 parties: Conservatives and Liberals This history of political conflict is represented in the career of Colonel Aureliano Buendia

United Fruit Company US influenced Colombia w. their help in Panama’s secession Bananas were the chief Colombian export UFC was most notorious in its trade US assumed control of the Banana Zone Entered the area, built a company town, attracted workers, paid them in company money to be spent in company stores, left when workers unionized or the harvest became fatigued Culminated when 32, 000 workers went on strike demanding cash salaries and sanitary facilities

UFC continued A huge crowd gathered for a demonstration Troops, paid by UFC in cigarrettes and beer, opened fire on the crowd Estimated 40 dead, another observer estimated 400 and 1500 dead because of wounds incurred; 3000 injured Event denied by gov’t Denial reflected when Jose Arcadio Segundo cannot convince anyone that the massacre of strikers he witnessed was real

Twentieth Century Political Conflicts 1930 s-1940 s: “the Violence” Began after the Liberal mayor of Bogota was assassinated. Liberal gov’t was overthrown Rojas began a period of absolute military rule and Congress was dissolved. Rojas fell to a military junta in 1957 and L/C agreed on a comprise: the National Front— equal representation and alternating president —lessened rivalry btw parties but let to guerilla insurgencies

Reading the First Page with Thomas C. Foster We’ll be using How to Read Literature like a Professor. Here, the author of that text works through the opening page of the novel.

Genre Magical Realism: It is a uniquely Latin American style of writing which does not differentiate fact from illusion or myth from truth. In One Hundred Years: Ghosts, magical gypsies, raining flowers, voracious ants, and impossible feats

Themes Solitude Love and Passion Fate and Chance Time Death Knowledge and Ignorance Political Millieu