Active Reading: Chapter Seven

ACTIVE READING: CHAPTER SEVEN

Quotes
"He's alive, let's pray to God for his enemies to show him clemency."
This is Ursula talking after she finds out that her son Aureliano is alive after the war. She is ecstatic, but does not know yet that he is to be executed.
"I don't know how the miracle took place, but he's alive and we're going to see him very soon."
The book then says how she took this for granted. Once she finds out she gets worried, goes to visit, and Aureliano sends her home to prevent him from getting into more trouble.

Magical Realism
Flowers falling randomly from the sky at moments of death would be an example of this.

Themes
Death and grief. Jose Arcadio and Jose Arcadio Buendia both pass away, leaving the family in major sadness and pain.

Character Development
Colonel Aureliano and his friend Gerineldo Marquez are sentenced to death, but escape. Jose Arcadio dies randomly and mysteriously, then Rebbeca goes into solidarity out of despair. Then, towards the end of the chapter, Jose Arcadio Buendia finally dies after a long battle with a mental illness.

Summary
Chapter seven starts off with the war ending, and the Liberals losing. Aureliano is alive, but sentenced to death. Before his death he escapes and tries to start more uprisings. However, he is again unsuccesful. He does, however, regain Macondo. Jose Arcadio dies, and nobody is sure of what happened. Suicide is speculated, however murder is not ruled out as well. Rebecca, as a result, puts herself in isolation out of sorrow and sadness. After all of these tribulations, Jose Arcadio Buendia then dies after years of suffering from a mental illness.