Active Reading: Chapter Eight

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER EIGHT

Quotes
"Can a person marry his own aunt?"
This is Areliano Jose, the son of Aureliano, asking a colleague if it is possible to marry an aunt (in this case, Amaranta is being referred to).
"He not only can do that, but we're fighting this war against the priests so that a person can marry his own mother."
This is the soldier's response to Aureliano Jose. After that response, Aureliano Jose ditches and goes to find Amaranta to try and marry her.

Magical Realism
All seventeen (17) of Aureliano's sons are brought to be baptized, and they are all named Aureliano.

Themes
Passion is the biggest theme. More specifically, that of incest. Aureliano Jose is madly in love with his aunt Amaranta, and they actually have a fling for a period of time. However, he goes away and cannot pursue it. When he decides to come back and go for it, she is completely against it but he is still deeply in love with her.

Character Development
Again, Aureliano Jose grows up to fall deeply in love with his aunt Amaranta. Colonel Aureliano leaves the country and goes all over to start Liberal uprisings. For awhile, Aureliano Jose is with him but then leaves to find Amaranta.

Summary
The focal points of this chapter are Aureliano Jose falling in love with Amaranta and Colonel Aureliano fleeing the country after a peace agreement is made with the Conservatives. Aureliano Jose and Amaranta have their fair share of romantic rendezvous until they are almost caught. Amaranta cools and he leaves with Aureliano. He puts more thought into being with Amaranta and leaves, but when he goes back she wants no part of an incestuous relationship. Soon after being rejected, he is killed by a Conservative soldier.