100 Years of Soltitude Part 2

 Since I finished a big chunk of the novel during reading break, I’ll focus today’s blog post on themes discussed in this week’s lecture video while discussing a bit more about some of the things that stood out to me about the novel’s end. 

Firstly, I liked the discussion of this week’s drink and its relevance to the novel’s ending. In some sense,  reflecting back, this highlights the power of a drink as a means of connection and comfort, particularly in times of great hardship. Despite its humble origins and rough reputation, aguardiente becomes a source of solace for Aureliano and the bartender, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope for human connection and resilience. However, the knowledge of what Aureliano was about to go home to is still unsettling.

Besides, what continues to impress me is how difficult it is to categorize this novel. It's a story that is both a beautiful work of magical realism, with vivid imagery, surreal scenes, and memorable characters, and a disturbing and catastrophic portrayal of human nature, forcing readers to confront the darker side of our reality. This contrast is apparent when Aureliano finds some solace at the bar, believing that the worst is over, not realizing that what's coming up ahead is much worse. 

While I was personally hoping for a bit of a happy ending such as Aureliano finally breaking the curse (which in some sense he did?), this bleak ending is a stark reminder of the novel's larger themes of human suffering and the futility of our attempts to escape the cyclical nature of history. It is a powerful commentary on the impact of modernization on traditional ways of life, as in some ways, the Buendía family and their community are destroyed primarily by the forces of progress and change. 

Throughout the book, we see the cyclical nature of time and history, with events repeating themselves over and over again. The last few pages of the book seem to complete this circle, as Aureliano's delirious condition reflects the madness of his great-grandfather and the ruined town mirrors the wars and conflicts that destroyed the region earlier. There is a sense of “finality” and closure to the ending; as the Buendia family line comes to an end, there is a sense that the cycle has finally been broken, that the weight of history and fate has been lifted.

That being said, I found the ending to be both satisfying and unsatisfying. While it stayed true to the themes of the novel and was, in some sense, an appropriate conclusion to the cyclical nature of history, I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness at the end of the Buendía family line. However, I appreciate how the ending left room for interpretation and reflection, allowing us to form our own conclusions.

Discussion post: How did you feel about the book’s ending? Were you satisfied with it or were you also expecting a bit of a happy ending?