Pandemic Adjustments
In the novel, Macondo was plagued by this disease. Symptoms included not being able to fall asleep and memory loss.
What is insomnia (pg. 44).
Repeatedly, science and technology are shown to confuse or entrance the people of Macondo while other magical elements seem normal to them. One item in particular, which is the term for water in its solid-state, bewilders Jose Arcadio Buendia. To us, it is a normal everyday item.
What is ice.
A major theme of the novel is that history repeats itself. An example of this is incest in the Buendia family. According to Ursala, if incest occurred, there was a chance of children being born with this deformation.
What is a pig's tail.
In the novel, the massacre at the banana company was a direct result of this. A similar reason was behind the Tiananmen Square Massacre that occurred in China in 1989.
What are protests.
In the novel, Fernanda is an adamant believer and follower of this religion. Today, it is widely practiced throughout the Americas.
What is Christianity.
Unlike the characters in the novel, to stop the spread of the coronavirus, humans today are urged to practice this: a term meaning to limit social interactions whenever possible.
What is social distancing.
Early in the novel, this object is brought into Macondo. Instead of asking how such an object could exist, “The people at once dug up their last gold pieces to take advantage of a quick flight over the houses of the village”.
What is a flying carpet (pg.31).
Name the character mentioned in the quote: “once again she shuddered with the evidence that time was not passing, as she had just admitted, but that it was turning in a circle”.
Who is Ursula (pg. 335).
After the banana plant massacre, the whole town of Macondo seemingly believes that it never occurred. Unfortunately, today there are still people that believe this historical event never happened, where millions of Jewish people were killed in Europe during WW2.
What is the Holocaust.
This character’s purity throughout the novel is consistently shown. Eventually, they ascend to heaven and their family's reaction mirrors the belief in miracles in the Christian faith.
Who is Remedios the Beauty (pg. 251).
Currently, no one officially knows where Covid-19 came from. In the novel, however, the insomnia plague was carried into the city by this individual.
Who is Rebeca (pg. 43).
The magic realism elements of the story are considered so because they are plausible to the novel’s characters, however, seem like this genre of writing to the readers.
What is fiction.
In the novel, the insomnia plague was cured and never again returned. In current times, however, concerns have been raised that once quarantine restrictions are lifted, the coronavirus will return in a second wave. In 1918, this was just the case, as this disease’s second wave was just as deadly as the first.
What is the Spanish Flu.
While race did not play a factor in the massacre in the novel, it did in the genocide of thousands of Mayan people from 1960 to 1996 in this country.
What is Guatemala.
The invasion of religion in Latin America was a result of priests from this continent traveling to Latin American regions. This played a major role in the development of civilizations, as it did in Macondo in the novel.
What is Europe.
In the novel, to stop the spread of the plague, residents of Macondo would not let outsiders do this inside the city. This differs from our current pandemic restrictions.
What is eat or drink (pg. 46).
The unlikely rains that pummel Macondo in the novel for four years straight end up flooding parts of the town. In our present day lives, flooding from global warming is a major concern. This US city in particular, known for its Mardi Gras celebrations, is at risk to be underwater by the year 2100.
What is New Orleans.
Like Jose Arcadio Buendia helped found Macondo with the goal of building it into a civilization, this character, years later, brought in the railroad in an attempt to connect the city to civilization.
Who is Jose Arcadio Segundo (pg. 221).
This author, who’s book is titled in her name, won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1992 for her work in social justice and role in bringing to light the injustices against indigenous people in her home country.
Who is Rigoberta Menchu.
Today, Christianity is the predominant religion in Latin America with 69% of the population identifying as Christian. This similar religion comes in second, with 19% of the population practicing it across Latin America.
What is Protestantism.
On March 21st, 2020, this US state went into lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. It would soon become the state with the most confirmed virus cases in the US.
What is New York.
One could argue that our past selves could view our present-day lives as having magical realism characteristics. An example of this is the internet, and how it virtually connects the whole world together. Prior to this year, it did not exist and would sound science fiction to anyone you explained it to.
What is 1969.
He is credited with the famous quote "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
Who is George Santayana.
The widespread denial of the massacre at the banana company mirrors real-world denials of certain mass-murders or genocides that have occurred. In late 2019, this celebrity helped push the United States Congress into approving a bill that formally recognizes the Armenian Genocide.
Who is Kim Kardashian.
In order to effectively spread their religion, the small number of priests in Latin America had to be responsible for the spiritual guidance of a large number of native people. Likewise, this first priest in Macondo was responsible for building a church and teaching the people about his religion.
Who is Father Nicanor Reyna (pg. 81).