ChApTeR OnE

Plot Summary:
Chapter one- This chapter begins with a flashback of how a man was found. This man was Macondo. A gypsy, Melaquiades, gives Jose Arcadio Buendia some tools that can help him in the future. However, at first no one believes that he can do this nor will he accomplish it. Because no one believes in him, he begins to engage in scientific study even though his wife, Ursula doesn't want him to. He tries to get involved with the art or science of making gold out of other metals, but that also turns out unpositive. His studies keep him from his family more and more as time goes by. He then begins to tell everyone that the world is round, but everyone begins to question his santiy and what is going on through his head. Jose begins to then find out if he can contact to the world outside of Macondo. The guys that live in Macondo begin to trek through forest. As they pass along, they only find antiques. Jose wants to move but his wife refuses to leave. When his wife tells him no, he begins to focus more on his kids: Aureliano Buendia (who happens to be the oldest and acts like his father. Not only him he has others.) When he then goes to spend time with his family, he takes his children to a gypsy fair where they all see ice for the first time and finds out that Melaquiades is dead.
Quotes:

Quote 1- "If you have to go crazy, please go crazy all by yourself!"(pg. 5)

Quote 2- "The main things is not to lose our bearings"(pg. 11)
Themes:

Theme 1- Isolation- This is shown through Jose Arcadio Buendia plenty of times. Mainly how he separates himself from the rest of his family constantly. He continues to do this when he is studying alchemy. He also does this when Macondo is an island separate from all other civilization.

Theme 2- Time- The book continually has many flashbacks that help add meaning to the story. Also, the characters in the story are affected by these flashbacks in many ways.

Magical Elements:
Melaquiades - is the first magical element of the book. His abilities like being able to resist getting sick at deparate times or horrible conditions shows the readers that magic is a high key to them. The Gypsy's life and his travels is based off the magic that the readers see.
Macondo- is another character that also shows magical realism. He knew everyone in the village and no one ever died.

Characters:
Jose Arcadio Buendia- The Founder of Macondo is a very strong man. He always acts like someone who is in charge, but is very curious. He likes to experiment with everything he does not know about. Him always wanting to attain more information is a problem sometimes. It runs into problems with the village and problems with his wife.
Ursula Iguaran- This woman is the mother of Jose Arcadio., Colonel Aureliana Buendia, and Amaranta. She pretty much runs the family. She is a very postive person by always giving support not only as a mother, but also as a wife. The only problem is she has limits that she can not pass because of her position that her husband constantly puts her in.
Melaquides-This is the man that gives Jose every little thing he experiments with. This gypsy gives him technological things such as a magnets, a metal detectors and a magnifying glasses.
Macondo- This character knows everyone in the village, but somehow uses magic to help his friends.