Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Chapter 12 - part 1
How do the "gringos" that arrived with the railroad change Macondo? How do they view the native inhabitants (including the Buendias)? How do the Buendias (Ursula, Fernanda, Aureliano Segundo, Colonel Aureliano Buendia) feel about them and why? Offer at least two quotations in your response.
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The "gringos" who arrived in Macondo to build a railroad, caused the town to become modernized with the increase of modern technology. The gringos were very exclusive building a separate town right outside of Macondo causing the natives to be very skeptical of their new neighbors. As stated in the book "the foreigners who arrived without love covered the streets." (227) Everyone is really amused by the new foreigners except Remedios the Beauty. Aureliano is really excited about the amount of energy that the new comers are bringing to Macondo. " He could not contain his happiness over the avalanche of foreigners." (228) Ursula, like Aureliano, "felt a juvenile excitement as the time for the arrival of the train approached."(228) She started to prepare a huge feast for the foreigners when they arrive.
Macondo became more "modernized" as the gringos arrived. Macondo "transformed into an encampment of wooden houses with zinc roofs inhabited by foreigners." (226) These foreigners are coming in and completely changing what the town looks. They also "built a separate town across the railroad tracks with streets lined with palm trees, houses with screened windows, small white tables on terraces, and fans mounted on ceilings, and extensive blue lawns with peacocks and quails." (226) All of this European influence on the town is causing it to become less and less like the town it used to be. The life that the Buendias used to have is fading away and is being replaced by the "better" and "more advanced" way of life that the gringos bring with them. Another example of this is that the foreigners new shops were "displacing the old bazaars with their bright colors" (227). The Street of Turks used to be the center of social life in the old Macondo, but now the foreign influence has changed the place where people interact socially. The whole entire town of Macondo had changed.
Just as when Ursula first opened a trade route with the outside world, the influx of foreigners profoundly changes Macondo. The 'gringos' not only brought modern technology to the town, they completely altered the entire identity of Macondo. Macondo was no longer the quaint town it used to be; the "tumultuous and intemperate invasion" (227) of the gringos brought "shots, fists, knives... and brawls" (227), changing the society into a far cry from the original town. It seems the gringos view the native inhabitants as usable and naive, judging by the way Mr. Herbert initially takes advantage of Macondo. The very fact that the gringos "changed the pattern of the rains, accelerated the cycle of the harvests, and moved the river from where it had always been" (227) clearly demonstrates their disrespect of the natives and disregard for the way things were. They sweep in and take advantage of Macondo and its previous complete isolation and solitude.
(didn't adress the other questions because I figured that was enough...i can go on if necessary though)
By Kristie How B Period
Like Charlie and Kate said, the arrival of the gringos transforms Macondo from its original state into a more modern one. They “changed the patterns of the rains, accelerated the cycle of the harvests, and moved the river from where it had always been and put its white stones and icy currents on the other side of town” (227). This suggests that the new inventions and beliefs that the gringos bring seem unnatural to the natives. However, the ethnocentric views of the gringos towards the natives force the gringos’ lifestyle upon them. They surround their wealthy separate city with “a metal fence topped with a band of electrified chicken wire” (226). By keeping others from intruding upon their city, the gringos uphold their modern culture and elite status above the natives. The Buendia family members have different reactions towards the arrival of the gringos. Both Aureliano Segundo and Ursula are excited at the thought of guests because they like to entertain. However, Colonel Aureliano Buendia and Fernanda are less pleased. They can sense more of an intrusion as CAB believes people visit to “meet a historic relic” (228), and Fernanda recalls one of her guests “asked her for the check” (229).
when the gringos arrive to macondo it is clear that they have no interest in the people let alone their opinion, they come into Macondo as if the land is theres, "they were building their houses in any vacant lot without asking anyone's permission." pg227. they clearly do not care about following rules, they just assume a position of authority. this leaves the people of macondo very unhappy. At first they did not mind the foreigners, Aureliano was very excited that they were coming, but the people of macondo were upset with how many changes were happening. "so many changes took place in such a short period of time that eight months after Mr. Herbert's visit the old inhabitants had a hard time recognizing their own town."pg228 the foreigners were making macondo more modern and that did not please the people.
The “gringos” that arrive with the railroad change Macondo because they bring in more modern technology, like the banana plantation, and they even set up their own village next door to Macondo. Macondo becomes quite motley and sophisticated, especially with the arrival of the phonograph, the movie theater, and the immense amount of prostitutes. “It was as if God had decided to put to the test every capacity for surprise and was keeping the inhabitants of Macondo in a permanent alternation between excitement and disappointment, doubt and revelation, to such an extreme that no one knew for certain where the limits of reality lay” (224).
The gringos view the native inhabitants, including the Buendías, almost as if they are nobody or not significant, because, for example, the wealthy banana plantation owners create a police force who attack Macondo’s citizens with their machetes over minor offenses. Colonel Aureliano Buendía and Fernanda are the two who really dislike the influx of the gringos. Colonel Aureliano Buendía says, “Look at the mess we’ve got ourselves into, just because we invited a gringo to eat some bananas” (228). Also, he tries to start a war against the gringos after they introduced capitalism in Macondo and established such an authoritarian police force. Fernanda hates the improper gringos when “she had to swallow her scruples and treat guests of the worst sort like kings as they muddied her porch with their boots, urinated in the garden, laid their mats down anywhere to take their siesta, and spoke without regard for the sensitivities of ladies or proper behavior of gentlemen” (228). On the other hand, Aureliano Segundo is overjoyed when the gringos come to Macondo, and so is Ursula, who “even on the days when she was dragging her feet and walking about groping along the walls, felt a juvenile excitement as the time for the arrival of the train approached” (228).
In chapter 12, the gringos show up to build a railroad, which led to the town of Macondo becoming updated once again. The foreginers build a new town near Macondo and the town does not know what to expect. Because the foreigners came, the town of Macondo is changed, especially in the buildings, "Macondo transformed into an encampment of wooden houses with zinc houses" (226). This is a huge advance from the old mud houses of the original Macondo. This is yet another example of change in the town. "For the foreigners who arrived without love they converted the street of the loving matrons from France into a more extensive village than it had been" (227). This quotation also conveys the change in the town the foreigners brought, and some of the villagers did not like them.
-John Oppenheimer
-F period
The "gringos" who arrived in Macondo by railroad, changed the town by instilling modern technology. "...built a separate town across the railroad tracks with streets lined with palm trees, houses with screened windows, small white tables on the terraces, and fans mounted on the ceilings, and extensive blue lawns with peacocks and quails. The section was surrounded by a metal fence topped with a band of electrical chicken wire..." (226-227). The "gringos" brought a lot of disturbance to Macondo. "..the foreigners who arrived without love converted the streets..." (227). Colonel Aureliano Buendia believes that the people have got themselves into a mess, with having allowed the settlement of the "gringos" across the railroad tracks. However, "Aureliano Segundo,..., could not contain his happiness over the avalanche of foreigners" (228). And yet, the Buendia family decides to graciously welcome the foreigners with a huge celebration at the Buendia home.
The arrival of the gringos changed Macondo greatly as before they were a quiet town full of natives and then were suddenly invaded by foreigners and within moments the town "had already become transformed into an encampment of wooden houses with zinc roofs inhabited by foreigners who arrived on the train for halfway around the world," (pg. 226) causing an uneasy reality suddenly cast over Macondo. Colonel Aureliano Buendia views the surge in foreigners to be a mess and feels that Macondo will now be a conformity in which was his original reason to fight the war, "so that we didn't have to paint our houses blue," (pg. 237) Aureliano Segundo on the other hand is ecstatic. Ursula also feels excited when the foreigners arrive and though she is over 100 years old, she welcomes everyone into their home when they arrive in Macondo.
Before the “gringos” arrived in Macondo, Macondo had only been a temporary host to foreigners such as the gypsies, never had foreigners established a new civilization in Macondo. The “gringos“ immediately isolated themselves from the inhabitants of Macondo, they built "built a separate town across the railroad tracks (224)” and “the section was surrounded by a metal fence topped with a band of electrified chicken wire(226).” Along with establishing themselves in Macondo they brought about change such as “converting the street of the loving matrons from France into a more extensive village(227)” A common theme among new inhabitants in Macondo are the bringing about of prostitutes, and the “gringos” are no exception, they “brought a trainload of strange whores (227).” Once the railroad had been installed into Macondo and visitors began arriving, "it was as if God had decided to put to test every capacity for surprise and was keeping inhabitants of Macondo in a permanent alteration between excitement and disappointment(224)." While Ursula and Auerliano Segundo were excited by the “avalanche of foreigners(228)”, Amaranta, CAB and Fernanda were disappointed with the “disorder(229)” cause by the “gringos”.
The gringos that came to Mocondo with the railroad altered and confused many people's ideas about the world. "It as as if God had decided to put to the test every capacity for surprise and was keeping the inhabitants of Macondo in a permanent alteration between excitement and disappointment, doubt and revelation, to such an extreme that no one knew for certain where the limits of reality lay." (224) No one in Macondo knew for certain what was going to happen next. They continuously are surprised with new advancements that they never saw coming. These advancements keep changing Macondo and modernizing it which allows the real Macondo to seep through Ursula and the rest of the Buendia's hands to create an entirely new town. Colonel Aureliano Buendia is not happy about it. "Look at the mess we've got ourselves into, just because we invited a gringo to eat some bananas." (228) However Aureliano Segundo loves it. "Aureliano Segundo, on the other hand could not contain his happiness over the avalanche of foreigners." (228) This shows the development of the generations from rejection in the beginning to acceptance and excitement that Macondo will change, and they finally get to see and experience different things.
The “gringos”, who arrive in Macondo, change the town into a new “modern” type of town, but it takes a huge toll on the community. The classic community of preplanned housing for everyone’s benefit is changed to “encampments of wooden houses with zinc roofs inhabited by foreigners…” (226) making the town impersonal and a flocking ground for unwanted visitors wishing to get something out of the small town of Macondo. They make their own communities with fences and make new rivers and facilities. The “gringos” view the native inhabitants as totally arbitrary. When they got off the train and came to eat at the Buendia’s house, most of them “did not even know who their hosts were…” (228) and did not thank them in any way. They use the inhabitants for their benefits then treat them like trash. The Buendia family has mixed reactions to the newcomers. Colonel Aureliano Buendia dislikes the “gringos” because he feels they are just there to see him as an artifact and use them while Aureliano Segundo loves the prospect of new ideas and people. Fernanda, always filled with criticism, was mad she had to serve the “gringos” and they were even less civilized than the native inhabitants of Macondo. Ursula was very optimistic about the whole thing, inviting people in and serving them whatever they wanted. The “gringos” brought about lots of problems in Macondo and changed it into a entirely different place.
The "gringos" make Macondo more modern. Now that there is a railroad going through the town, it is exposed to more modern technology. The Buendias looked at the new people with caution. The new people built a town right outside Macondo, making the Buendias skeptical of the new people. "the foreigners who arrived without love covered the streets." They were not excited about the new people coming as seen in this qoute above. "All of this European influence on the town is causing it to become less and less like the town it used to be." This shows how Macondo is changing for the worst now that the foreigners have come.
The “gringos” bring into Macondo new technology, new customs and new traditions. As they move in, Macondo was “transformed into an encampment of wooden houses with zinc roofs” (226). The foreigners expand the town and settle away from the native Mocondians. The foreigners seem to view the native people of Macondo with condescending authority. When Mr. Herbert comes to lunch at the Buendia household he doesn’t act with expected courtesy, rather he “finished the first bunch” of bananas brought out and without hesitation “asked them to bring him another” bushel (225). After receiving more bananas, he proceeds to dissect one cautiously. While the “gringos” reaction to the natives is clear, the Buendia family have varied reactions to the “gringos” For example, Colonel Aureliano Buendia rejects and shuts himself off from the foreigners because he believes they only come to visit him in order to “meet a historical relic, a museum fossil” of the war (228). On the other hand, Aureliano Segundo and Ursula embrace the “gringos” with giddy excitement.
The gringos that arrive in Macondo effect Macondo by modernizing it, bringing chaos and great prosperity with the banana plantations, and completely changing the basic ideals of which Macondo were founded. However, this is not for the better according to the Buendias."So many changes took place in such a short time that eight months after Mr. HErbert's visit the old inhabitants had a hard time recognizing their own town." (228)
"'Look at the mess we've got ourselves into,' CAB said at that time,'just because we invited a gringo to eat some bananas.'" (228)
When the gringos arrive in Macondo, they bring with them a railroad and a future of modern development to the town. The gringos not only want to make a profit out of the railroad, but learn that they may be able to start setting up banana plantations with the help of low paid workers. Therefore, the gringos have no interest in getting to know or befriend the villagers of Macondo, but instead learn what they need to about the area and quickly settle in their developments. For the villagers of Macondo, "it was as if God had decided to put to the test every capacity for surprise and was keeping the inhabitants of Macondo in a permanent alternation between excitement and disappointment, doubt and revelation, to such an extreme that no one knew for certain where the limits of reality lay" 224. In this sense, the change for the Buendia family was that a hurricane had gone through Macondo, but the eye of it passed right over the Buendia's so that the next morning when they walked outside, everything was different while they remained the same. For the most part, the Buendia's are skeptical about the gringos, but Ursula alone seems to take an interest to learning about them and feels "a juvenile excitement as the time for the arrival of the train approached" 228.
"Looking at the sketch that Aureliano Triste drew on the table and that was a direct descendant of the plans with which Jose Arcadio Buendia had illustrated his project for solar warfare, Ursula confirmed her impression that time was going in a circle" (pg. 221). Ursula's assertion in this case was correct. Macondo is trapped in a cycle of events, and the city cannot escape. Every time the city comes in contact with more of the outside world, the foundations that the city was built upon are undermined and deteriorated until we are left with a town that "the old inhabitants had a hard time recognizing" (pg. 228). Each wave of new technology and people lead to a wilder, uncontrollable Macondo, with more prostitutes roaming the streets, more fights, more brawls and more disagreements. But, while there is so much change happening to the city, the Buendia family does not change with Macondo. This is seen because the new residents found their own city ont he other side of the tracks, separating themselves from the previous inhabitants. While the members of the Buendia family generally accept the 'gringos,' the 'gringos' do not accept the Buendias.
The arrival of the gringos really causes the modernization of Macondo. with their coming Macondo "transformed into an encampment of wooden houses with zinc roofs inhabited by foreigners." (226) The gringos build new shops, bring European influence, as well as complete the railroad. Macondo has now turned into a cosmopolitan city unlike it used to be. The gringos also build their own banana plantation and they "built a separate town across the railroad tracks with streets lined with palm trees, houses with screened windows, small white tables on terraces, and fans mounted on ceilings, and extensive blue lawns with peacocks and quails." (226). This own little suburban area of gringos shows how modern Macondo has become and how much it has grown by suburban living areas being constructed around it.
The influx of modern technology and people that the gringos brought with them was extraordinary. So many people came "that during the first days it was impossible to walk through the streets." (227) The gringos introduced railroads, movie theatres, and telephones--the things that modern cities have today. In short, the gringos completely modernized Macondo. It is no longer the quiet, solitary town it used to be. The Europeans see the native Macondans as inferior. They intrude and build "their houses in any vacant lot without anyone's permission." (227) The gringos disrespect the natives by not taking into account the pre-existing culture and replacing it with their new and modern technology. With the exception of Remedios the Beauty and C.A.B., most of the town agreed with Aureliano Segundo and "could not contain [their] happiness over the avalanche of foreigners." (228) The Buendia family is especially welcoming to the foreigners, for they daily invite the new people to stay and eat at their house.
The gringo’s arrival by the trainload to seems to be simply another outside influence coming to Maccondo and changing it for the worse. The Gringos view the town as a place to bring their technology to and make easy money for themselves. They view themselves as inherently better than the current inhabitants and welcome the hospitality not with thanks, but rather as something they deserve. The people of Maccondo are at first impressed and amazed at the technological wonder “They stayed up all night looking at the pale electric bulbs” (240). Until realizing the woes the Gringos eventually bring them.
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