Thursday, November 29, 2007
Gabe's Explication
In this passage, Gabriel Garcia Marquez creates an allusion to Good Friday in order to show the similarities of Ursula’s character to that of Jesus. Jesus, after spending almost his entire life trying to keep order and save people all around him, eventually dies after his long struggle. Ursula finally dies after trying to accomplish the same thing as Jesus. Throughout her whole life, Ursula has been fixing any problems within the Buendia family and keeping order so that Macondo could survive. Ursula, just like Jesus, continues her struggle to save her family and the community as well as future inhabitants of Macondo. Although Jesus’ goal was not fully accomplished in his lifetime on earth, his impact was felt throughout many centuries after. Ursula has basically sacrificed her life and her well being in order to keep the family surviving. This death of Ursula also brings the town a sense of hope that once they realize what an impact Ursula has made and finally bring changes that will help Macondo positively. Through this allusion to Jesus’ death on Good Friday, Marquez suggests that although Ursula dies, her impact and saving grace will be felt throughout Macondo for years to come.
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7 comments:
I agree that this line is a biblical allusion. Ursula has shown throughout the novel that she is the foundation of the family, similar to Jesus being the foundation of christianity, and it is fitting that she dies on a holy day. I think it is also appropriate that later on, right before her death, her last requests are of course not for helself or for a pleasant death, but for God to aid the rest of her family. This is a testament to Ursula's high moral character, and one again proves that she was the most steady and reasonable character in the book who almosts certainly wont be able to be replaced.
I like how you made the biblical comparison of Ursula to Jesus. It is fitting because, as you say, Ursula brought order to Macondo and kept the town in line. Her accomplishments, although overlooked sometimes by those of the male figures of the Buendia family, will not be forgotten in her time of passing on the Good Friday. I also agree with you on how her death brought a sense of hope and peace to the town for a short amount of time. The impact Ursula had on the town will soon be felt in her absence when the inevitable fall of Macondo follows through.
I like how GGM has Ursula die on Good Friday. I agree with your comparison of Ursula to Jesus because Ursula has been the primary care taker of the Buendia household as Jesus is our father. Ursula was always there for her family whether it was for the good or bad. Continuing this connection, Jesus died for us out of love so we could be free. I feel as if Ursula died for the town of Macondo with love in hopes for the town to grow and improve. Ursula has left a mark on Macondo that no one will ever forget.
like jesus, ursula has sacrificed everything for Macondo along with her family. she has taken in outsiders, like rebecca, and has supported everyone. she keeps everyone in order, and tries to keep all of the people in the town together, and not in solitude. jesus takes care of his town and respects everyone, just as Ursula has respected everyone. ursula ends her life knowing that she has done so much for the town and keeping it in order
i also agree this is clearly a biblical allusion. I think it is important to point out that bible references have a been a motiff throughout the story usually to aid magical realism. For example the 17 aurelianos all had ash stuck to their head. I think this line also is meant to point out the importance of ursula to the family. Becasue she dies on a very holy day it shows that she has been in many days a savior to her family as you point out. Also it tells someting about her as a character. It makes her almost seem saintly.
I agree and I think that this shows the similarities between Jesus and Ursula. Like Jesus, she was the savior of Macondo and tried to keep people away from solitude. She tried to keep the family and Macondo itself together and brought a sense of stability in the town. With her death, Macondo is destined to failure. She made Macondo prosper and grow, like Jesus made life prosper on earth.
i don't think it actually brought the town a sense of hope, however. In some respects I think it brought confusion with everyone looking for a person to replace Ursula and there is no one who is as qualified.
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