Cien años IV

After finishing this book, I definitely feel as though I have accomplished something.  Reading this book was no doubt a challenge for me considering my limited experience of reading Spanish literature.  With this said, however, I think my ability to read literature in Spanish has grown tremendously as a result of reading a 500 page book.  More so than the other works that we have read in this class, I think there is something to be said for the length of a work, and how it becomes easier the more familiar you become with it, and begin to know what to look for etc.  Class discussions have obviously contributed to my understanding and clarity of this book as well. Upon telling people that I was reading Cien años, I was shocked at the number of people who (not realizing I was reading it in Spanish) told me that they had started it (in English) and had not been able to finish it.  This only increases my sense of accomplishment, as well as highlighting the difficulty of this book.

 

On an entirely different note….In the end, I think that Ursula was my favourite character.  Throughout the novel, I never really cared for or disliked any characters more than others.  However, the more I read, the more I liked Ursula.  She is the foundation of the Buendía family and despite everything that occurs (war, death, insanity etc.), she is the one that has always kept them together.  Perhaps this is true in the fact that it speaks to the strength and foundation that not only women, but mothers provide in a family structure.  Ursula always seemed to be right-minded and have a firm sense of reality despite everything taking place around her. Although she came across as being harsh at times, it always seemed like it was for good reason.  She did not have excellent relationships with every member of her family, but she was respected and clearly embodied the matriarchy of not only the family, but of Macondo also.  Even after she becomes bedridden and increasingly more senile, she still is able to provide the children with information and history of the family.  Furthermore, the importance and power of Ursula is illustrated after the flood when, despite her ailments, she gets out of bed in attempt to once again restore order to the Buendía household.  The final point that demonstrates the importance and powerfulness of Ursula is reflected in the total decline that Macondo (as well as the Buendía household) experiences after her death.