Chapter 11

Magical Realism

The obvious magical realism for this chapter is how the ashes are permanently marked upon the sons heads. People in today's society do go get ashes for Ash Wednesday. The mark tends to stay on you head for the majority of the day, but not for the rest of your life. This is where the magic sets in because its impossible to have something as light as ashes to make a permanent mark. They probably signified death to the sons, as in their ashes.

Character

Aureliano Segundo changed the most in this chapter. He fell for the the beauty of Fernanda but then just gives up on it because of a personality crisis. He contradicts the feelings he supposedly has for Fernanda because he goes back to Petro so easily. Overall Aureliano seems to be confused on where his heart really is and uses supposed rational excuses to cover himself.

Summary

In this chapter a little history about Fernanda is revealed. She has always been raised to strive for the best in life an thinks that's what she is. Unfortunately her reputation for being wealthy is fading fast due to death. But on the other hand she has a real admirer: Aureliano Segundo. He is truly having a requited love for her at first because he has to follow her around and drag her to marry him. In the end, they aren't are a well matched pair, and this drives Aureliano Segundo to constantly go back to Petro for his sexual pleasure and also the well being of the animals. Fernanda is basically "holding out" because of her morals. She also takes charge of the Buendia household by applying all the aristocratic things she has been taught in her lifetime. This brings grief once again to the house, but it doesn't stop her and her husband from having two children of their own: Meme and Jose Arcadio II. Meanwhile, the anniversary of the ending of war comes around and Colonel Buendia is honoured with the Order or Merit, but yet he refuses it. Even though he denied it angrily, his seventeen sons still celebrate with him. they are soon taken to get ashes for Ash Wednesday, but they are mysteriously permanent marks to their foreheads until the day the pass away. Even though, two of the sons come into contact with Rebeca, which also means they came into contact with what caused a lot of grief and solitude: ice. They end up being successful at making a railroad connection to the ice factory they build.

Quotes

"The most obscene thing I've ever seen in my life,......... I married a Sister of Charity"

This is when Aureliano Segundo realizes that him and Fernanda aren't a match for each other. They are two different people.

"Now I'm convinced too late............that I would have done you a great favour if I'd let them shoot you."

This is the realization that Colonel Buendia had a chance to change events of the past but didn't take it.

Theme

Mystery- The chapter itself has a lot of questions that can't be answered. There is no definite reason behind any of the events. For example how the ashes stay on the sons head or the way Aureliano feelings fluxiate, and also the random and yet constant discovery of Jose Arcadio Buendio's studies and why they are attracted to it.