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Chapter One (3/1/07)
Magical elements: The first element that jumps out as a magical reality, is the fact that Jose Arcadio Buendia was using a magnet to search for gold. It seems possible, that a magnet would attract metal, but the likely hood is slim to none. Also when he tried to make a weapon out of a magnifying glass, it seems possible but not probable.
Another one was when Melquiades said he knew that the devil had a sulfuric smell, which would make sense since the devil is associated with the devil.
And when Jose Arcadio Buendia becomes involved in alchemy, which in it's own sense is magical realism, it seems like it is a magical reality. The fact that one could use science to take ordinary metals and turn them into something valuable such as gold seems like something that could be done but is still very unlikely.
Character development: Jose Arcadio Buendia goes through changes, he changes from a very able patron of the town who is able to run it with great efficiency to the complete opposite. He then becomes a man who lives in a fantasy world full of gold and whimsical hopes.
Ursula changes as well, she changes from a fearful woman, that fears the things her husband will do to a woman who has comes to terms with his change. She has not become totally supportive, but rather use to the idea that he will do crazy things, so to avoid drama she just learned to except the things he does.
Plot Summary: Basically in the first chapter all that is being done is that we get a rough introduction to the characters and things that set up the rest of the book. The reader sees that Jose Arcadio Buendia's fetish for fantasy will play an important role in the development of how the story will play out.
Also the reader sees that there is a certain isolation to thier town, so the desperation for Jose Arcadio Buendia to find the rest of the land with other people and towns is a key fact in the book. There will , in the plot of the book, attempts in anyway to reach out and make contact with others.
Quotes: "Things have a life of their own," the gypsy proclaimed with a harsh accent. " It's simply a matter of waking up their souls."
It stands out to me because it shows that people believe in far fetched magical ideas and thoughts.
" We will not leave," she said. " We will stay here, because we have had a son here."
This stands out to me because Ursula stands up to Jose Arcadio Buendia, finally after dealing with all his crazy antics.
Themes: Discovery is very important theme in chapter one. Jose Arcadio Buendia is so intrigued with finding gold, a way to use important inventions, and other things. He is also determined to find a path that will lead to other villages. Isolation is also a theme. Jose Arcadio Buendia wants to find other civilizations because he wants to get rid of the feeling that he and the other people of Macondo are alone on a isolated land mass.

Chapter Two (3/5/07)

Magical Elements: In chapter two Jose Arcadio Buendia kills a man, and after he kills him Ursula sees the man's ghost on multiple occasions. Jose Arcadio Buendia sees the man as well, they become so bothered that they move away to get away from his ghosts. Another magical element was when Pilar Ternera claimed to be able to read the cards to determine what will happen in the future. Alchemy still plays a magical role in this chapter. That people can scientifically turn other metals into gold.
Character Development: In chapter two Ursula changes from a woman scared, and unsure of her relationship with her husband to a woman who accepts it for what it is and makes the best of the love she has for him even though it may be wrong is some people's eyes. Even though she and Jose Arcadio Buendia are distant family, they are still family none the less. And people think that because of that their life and family, or would become family, would wrong and disfunctional because of it. For example listening to others when they tell her that her children will be deformed, and actually believeing that. She then just finally lets all her concerns go one night when she and Jose Arcadio Buendia finally make love for the first time. That is an act that shows that she finally lets her fears go.
Jose Arcadio also changes in this chapter. He changes from little boy into a man. He goes through puberty and at once inherits very unique masculine features. He also becomes very interested in women , it becomes official when he and Pilar become involved with each other.
Jose Arcadio Buendia changes from a man that is always invlolved in his dream world and carrying out his fantasies to a man who takes charge of his household. He is cast back into reality when he has to take care of the two remaining kids when Ursula goes in search of Jose Arcadio, after he runs away.
Plot summary: In chapter 2, the reader sees the effects that are cause by a complicated situation. Jose Arcadio gets a woman pregnant and in response, he runs away. This causes Ursula go after him, which causes Jose Arcadio Buendia to take charge of the house while he's gone. Jose Arcadio Buendia steps up and take cares of things in the house.
Quotes: "Look at what people are going around saying, Ursula," he told his wife very calmly. (pg. 21)
Meaning that Jose Arcadio Buendia is very susceptible to the opinion of others and , in my opinion, will dictate how he acts throughout the rest of the book.
" You go home and get a weapon, because I am going to kill you". (pg. 21)
This shows that Jose Arcadio Buendia will also do anything to defend his honor and that of his family. Which speaks about his character, saying that he is a very proud man.
Themes: In this chapter one theme is abandonment, Jose Arcadio abandons his family, when he can't handle certain impotant issues. Ursula also leaves her family is search of Jose Arcadio when he leaves. She leaves Jose Arcadio Buendia to take care of everything she normally would.
Also incest is a theme, especially when Jose Arcadio is about to have sex with Pilar, and sees the face of his mother. He doesn't know why he does, but he also finds comfort in seeing her face.

Chapter Three (3/6/07)

Magical Realism: The plague of insomnia that makes people forget things is very unusual. The fact that insomnia can make the people totally forget their past and who they are is a very magical thing, but yet seems possible because it's tied to a real thing (insomnia). Another aspect is that Melquiades came back from the dead. The fact that anyone can come back from the dead is automatically magical in a sense all it's own.
Character Development: Jose Arcadio Buendia changes goes through a change once again, he changes back into the town leader he had once been in his past. He sheds the magical fantasies once again.
Rebeca changes from a shy little girl when she first arrives, to a girl who is more open to the family. She comes to accept them as her own and begins to open up to them.
Aureliano changes as well, he changes into a man, so to speak. He has his first sexual encounter. And goes from an inexperienced man to one who has "known a woman".
Plot summary: In chapter 3 Pilar gives Arcadio to his grandparents for them to raise. Amaranta takes him as her own and raises him. A little girl who is a distant relative of the family, Rebeca, arrives to stay with them because her parents have died. When she comes she is hesitant to become part of the family, but ten after a few weeks she begins to become more active with them and feels at home with them. But when she begins to suffer from insomnia , like a plague, it spreads to all of the people in the house, and eventually to the whole town. When people begin to forget who they are and their past, in the nick of time Melquiades arrives with an antidote to cure them of the sickness. Also the magistrate comes to the village, and Jose Arcadio Buendia becomes very upset at this because the magistrate starts to order the people around. Jose Arcadio Buendia then tells him that it wouldn't be wise of him to do that or else he would have to leave. Aureliano become infactuated with Remedios, the daughter of the magistrate, and has dreams of being able to be with her.
Quotes: "You shouldn't complain." Ursula told her husband. "Children inherit their parents' madness." (pg. 40) This shows that the unique, and abnormal family traits will be passed down from generation to generation in the family.
" I'm thinking about Prudencio Aguilar again." (pg. 44) This shows that throughout the book that there will be things in the family that will come back to haunt them, things that have happened in their past.
Themes: One of the most apparent themes in chapter three is revelations. The family goes through many a number of revelations. A new family remember is revealed to them, as is the symptoms of a rare plague. Also the phenomena of Melquiades coming back from the dead is revealed to them as well, although they don't know how it happens exactly.

Chapter Four (3/6/07)

Magical Realism: In Chapter 4 Jose Arcadio Buendia believes that Pierto Crepsi is a fairy. That is not true but, Jose Arcadio Buendia does believe it to be true. Also The fact that Jose Arcadio Buendia becomes lost in a world of his fantasies where time stops is out of the usual. Even though the idea of a person who is so caught up in what they are doing, that they lose all sense of time is in fact possible. But the notion that it will actually happen isn't, and that is what Jose Arcadio Buendia actually believed happened.
Character Development: In chapter four Amaranta and Rebeca both grow into young ladies. Rebeca grows into a young woman who believes in very romantic feelings, especially when she acquires them for Pierto Crepsi. Amaranta grows into a young woman of jealous, because she too loves him. Aureliano also grows more into a man intune with his feelings, shown in his dedication to put up with the little girl he loves in hope she will grow up into a woman who will love her too.
Plot summary: In this chapter Rebeca and Pierto become engaged to each other, as do Aureliano and Remedios. Jose Arcadio Buendia is the one who goes to the house of Remedios and asks her father to grant Aureliano's wish to marry her. They are shocked and insist on one of their older daughters, but Aureliano wants Remedios. Rebeca and Pierto become involved, and when this happens Amaranta becomes angry. She threatens to do anything in her power to prevent them from wedding. Ursula then plans a trip to take with Amaranta in hopes she will cool down.Pilar also announces to Aureliano that she is going to have his son, and he will recognize him as his child. Jose Arcadio Buendia becomes very involved in trying to get a music box to work, and when that happens he finally loses his mind and thinks time is standing still, and sees the ghost of the man he killed. He goes crazy and his family is forced to tie him to a tree in the backyard where he would carry out the majority of the rest of his life.
Quotes: "Don't get your hopes up. Even if they send me to the ends of the earth I'll find some way of stopping you from getting married, even if I have to kill you". (pg. 73) This shows the desperation Amarata has to stop Rebeca, because she loves Pierto so much.
"Today is Monday too." (pg. 77). This shows that Jose Arcadio Buendia has indeed lost his mind, and all sense of reality. He has made his last journey into fantasy, where he will stay.
Themes: In chapter four one theme is the sense of time. Jose Arcadio Buendia lost his sense of time and finally gave up on reality. He repeated Monday in his head for three days in a row, in his mind, time did indeed stop.
Another theme is love. Aureliano is in love with Remedios. and shows this when he takes the time to care for her, and teach her. Rebeca is also in love, and shows great affection to Pierto whenever she can.
Themes: A major theme in this chapter is revenge. Amaranta is desperate for revenge when she finds out that Rebeca is going to marry Pierto Crepsi. She vowed to do anything to keep them from marrying him, even going to the extent to kill Rebeca

Chapter Five (3/7/07)

Magical Realism: In this Chapter, Madness(mentally) is very big aspect with an important role. The one that suffers the most from this madness is Jose Arcadio Buendia. He goes crazy and is still tied to the tree as in the previous chapter. He is even o longer able to communicate in his launguage. The only thing he can speak is in Latin, and lost all sense of self. From memory of his family to that of his own identity as well.
Character Development: Aureliano changes a great deal in this chapter. He changes from a man in love Remedios, to a man who is sorrowful when she dies. He then changes to a man of purpose, he changes to a man who becomes dedicated to the purpose of the war. Rebeca also goes through a change. She goes from being in love Pierto to being in love with her "brother" Jose Arcadio. Jose Arcadio Buendia changes to a man who is compeletly lost within himself. He is no longer the man he use to be, and no way he can ever go back to the man he use to be.
Plot summary: Aureliano and Remedios become married. She is recieved into the house with great pleasure. She is the one who undertakes the tasks of taking care of Jose Arcadio Buendia. She even announces that she will be having a baby. Amaranta and Rebeca even call a truce to make clothes for the baby. Remedios then dies, and Rebeca and Pierto's is then put on hold, but in this period she falls in love with her brother Jose Arcadio and marries him. With that, Amaranta and Pierto become engaged. Aureliano tells Ursula that their marriage should be put on hold. During this period Aureliano's father in law urges him to remarry, and even pick one of his 6 daughters. He refuses. He also becomes involved in the war, and leads the revolution,and he spreads the word of what is happening among his peers in hopes to spark an intrest of the war in them as well. He becomes Colonel Aureliano Buendia.
Quotes: "You are a woman little sister." (pg.91) This shows the incestual intent that is rampant among the family. Especially in the case of Jose Arcadio and Rebeca, when they wed, although not tequnically brother and sister, but still raised as such.
"War. And don't call me Aurelito anymore. Now I'm Colonel Aureliano Buendia." (pg.101). This shows that Aureliano is no longer a boy of simple virtues any longer. He is a man that is very troubled by a tragedy and is trying to find an outlet for it by pouring his self into something that seems worth fighting in.
Themes: Themes in this chapter include incest and love. Rebeca and Jose Arcadio are very much in love, but their love is a taboo. Due to the fact they are considered brother and sister, although not by blood. So if they are raised in the same house hold by the same parents, their relationship is seen as incestual. Another love that develops is that of Pierto and Amaranta, when Rebeca leaves him. He turns to Amaranta in order to find comfort and happiness. She was the one who always had love for him, so there was no need for her to develop them.

Chapter Six (3/7/07)

Magical Realism: One thing that is out of the ordinary is how Colonel Gregorio could fight off a whole bunch of opposing troops, with just himself. It seems very unlikely that one man could get rid of a large number of a large number of armed men.
Character Development: Aureliano changes into a military man, he becomes devoted to the purpose of the war. With his expeirance in the war, he gaines more knowledge and becomes more wise. Ursula becomes more dominant in the house. When Arcadio becomes cruel and is about to assinate a man, she steps in and beats him for it. Arcadio also changes into a kind little boy into a man who becomes enraged with power and turns evil, and punishes people for petty reasons.
Plot Summary: In Chpter Six, Colonel Aureliano Buendia is off fighting different battles of the war. While away he leaves Arcadio in charge of Macondo. During Arcadio's rule he became corrupt with power, and had people killed and beaten for different reasons. When he was going to have Don Apolinar Moscote, Ursula found out and started to beat him. . While all this is going on Amaranta and Pierto are deepening their feelings. But something in her mind changed, and she denied to marry. He would try to win her back, but she refused to give into his antics. In response to the heart break, he killed himself. Arcadio found a woman who he became invloved with, his sister. They had a daughter and twins. But when the opposing army invaded the town, they captured Arcadio and then they shot him.
Quotes: " In a way that niether you nor I can understand, that man was a saint," she said. " So I am going to bury him against your wishes, beside Melquiades' grave". (pg. 110). This significance shows that Ursula has become dominant person in the family and takes contorl of running things
"To my great honor," he said, " I am not a Buendia." (pg. 111) This shows that Arcadio indeed has hatred from the family whence he came. He hates the very thought of being one. That helps to explain the hatred he developed, even towards his family.

Themes: Themes in chapter 6 are change and betrayel. Arcadio and Aureliano change. Arcadio changes into a more evil man and he betrays his family by saying that he is no longer a Buendia. He also betrays his town by turning on the people for the most litte, insignificant defiances they may have not meant to cause. Aureliano changes into a man more dedicated to something. He changes into a man who concentrates all his sorrows to the cause of the war.