Active Reading: Chapter Eighteen

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Quotes
"I give up. This is too much hour for my poor bones."
This is Santa Sofia de la Piedad talking, who decides she needs to leave the house for her own welfare. She cannot take nurturing those living in the house anymore, and feels that she needs to move on. It is not clear where she goes to, just that she leaves for good.

Magical Realism
Aureliano II continuing the study of the work of Melquiades, in addition to him being visited by the ghost of Melquiades from time to time.

Themes
Struggle. The family struggles to recover after the great flood, and they have to rely on food from Petra Coates. They also deal with the death of Fernanda del Carpia, although frankly it does not affect anyone greatly because of her attitude. Jose Arcadio II is struggling majorly until he find's the gold that Ursula left. He parties quite a bit, and is eventually killed and robbed of it.

Character Development
Fernanda del Carpio dies, Santa Sofia de la Piedad leaves the family, Jose Arcadio II comes home after really not getting an education at all, just hoping he can live off the family wealth. He is devastated to find out that they are poor, and ends up finding the gold Ursula left. He is eventually killed for it. Aureliano II continues to learn more, following in the foot steps of Melquiades.

Summary
The family becomes poor, and they are living off food made by Petra Coates. Aureliano II continues his quest for knowledge, and Jose Arcadio II returns after spending years away not really learning anything. He comes back with nothing at all, until he discovers Ursula's gold. He spends some of it on lavish parties, all the while getting closer with Aureliano II. However, Jose Arcadio II gets murdered one night all for his fortune. Also in this chapter, Fernanda del Carpia dies and Santa Sofia de la Piedad packs up and leave the family and Macondo.