Chapter 20

Magical Realism

The magical realism of this chapter are of course how Aureliano III is born with a pig tail. Not only that, but the way Aureliano II just forgets about the newborn so easily, and nothing is known about the baby's whereabouts. This isn't rational or explainable in all actuality so that's where the magic sets in. The way that he and his aunt also make love every night and don't really give much acknowledgement to the ants is magical as well. But the main one is the way a mysterious wind comes along and takes the town away with every bit of memory of it.

Character

Aureliano II again goes through changes. He has to deal with the deforemity of his newborn son, the lost of his love, and realization of what the gypsy stories were about. It seems as if it is all too much for him at one time. Then for his memory to be complete wiped away is not helpful.

Summary

Gaston has finally got his business up and running and has to leave town. While out of town he becomes knowledgeable of Armanta Ursula's affair and refuses to return. Aureliano II's friends leave the town and the town becomes more desolate but it doesn't stop the love he and Armanta Ursula share with other. The Buendia house is in bad shape, but yet the two continue with their lovemaking and ignore the infestation of red ants. Because of their incest they have a child named Aureliano III, who is born with a pig tail, and the birth of the child also causes Armanta Ursula to die from a major loss of blood. Aureliano II finds her body and yet the red ants are eating it. Because of his depression he goes back to Nigromanta and forgets his newborn and also becomes a alcoholic. Afterwards he again goes into solitude to finish deciphering the stories and sees that it is the history of the Buendias. As he reads he sees that it is telling what is happening in his present life right now, but before long a wind comes and takes away all the memory he has along with the town.

Quotes

"Then don't wear yourself out searching.........many years ago there used to be a street here with that name and in those days people had the custom of naming their children after streets."

This quote is significant to showing to how still up to this point in time the memory of the Buendias and theie family along with othere important events are completely lost.

"The first of the line is tied to a tree and the last is being eaten by the ants."

This quote is significant to showing what the gypsy stories revealed to Aureliano II and got him to realize it was recording everything going on at that single moment.

Theme

Mystery and Completion- These are the themes because the problem is solved as far as what the gypsy stories were about, but yet there is mystery because none of it seems to make sense. There is no really understanding in the end.