Characterization, Symbolism, and Repetition in Hundred Years of Solitud

Characterization, Symbolism, and Repetition in One Hundred Years of Solitude The names of characters often suggest something about their personalities, either straightforwardly or ironically. Garcia Marquezs One Hundred Years of Solitude, Prudencio Aguilar is neither prudent nor eagle-like (aguila means eagle in Spanish). Repetition of names and behaviors is another technique of characterization. Certain character types, e.g., the contemplative, indomitable man, or the impetuous, forceful man, the patient and nurturing woman, and so on, are represented by more than one individual in the several generations of the Buendia family. All the Jose Arcadios, for example, are presume to have at least some of the traits of the original Jose Arcadio Buendia (impetuous and forceful), and all the Aurelianos have something in common with Colonel Aureliano Buendia (tendency toward solitude and contemplation). The repetitions are not exact, but the use of quasi(prenominal) names is one way to s uggest more about a character than is actually said. There are also repetitions of particular behaviors, for example, secluding oneself in a room for experiments or study.Some characters have characteristic signs to identify them. Examples include Pilar Terneras laugh, Colonel Aureliano Buendias solitary look, Aureliano Segundos extravagance, Fernandas continual muttering, and so on. Physical descriptions are used sparingly, let the reader fill in the details beyond such generalities as skinny or fat, beautiful, huge. An exception is made for Colonel Aureliano Buendia, who seems to be drawn from an especially clean up mental image of the authors, as though copied from a photograph. Some of the more spectacular individuals are ... ...wears away the axle, until the whole system, including both the constant attempts to renew Macondo and the counterpart of the Buendia clan, breaks down. Works Cited Bell-Villada, Gene H. Garcia Marquez The Man and His Work. Chapel Hill University of North Carolina Press, 1990. Griffin, Clive. The Humour of One Hundred Years of Solitude. In McGuirk and Cardwell, 81-94. James, Regina. Gabriel Garcia Marquez Revolutions in Wonderland. Columbia University of Missouri Press, 1981. McGuirk, Bernard and Richard Cardwell, edd. Gabriel Garcia Marquez untested Readings. Cambridge Cambridge University Press, 1987). Williams, Raymond L. Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Boston Twayne, 1984. Wood, Michael. Review of One Hundred Years of Solitude. In Critical Essays on Gabriel Garcia Marquez. McMurray, George R., ed. Boston G. K. Hall, 1987.