One Hundred Year's of Solitude

Discuss women's sexuality in regards to this novel. How do the female characters alternatively exploit and bury their sexuality? When it comes to their happiness and their sexuality, what patterns appear? What is García Márquez saying about women's freedoms?

One Hundred Years of Solitude is a 1967 novel by Columbian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It gives an account of the multi-generational story of the Buendia family which was founded by its patriarch Jose Arcadio Buendia (Milne , 2020). The Buendia family is the foundation upon which the town of Macondo is laid upon. The novel which revolves around seven generations discusses the role of men and women in the society (Milne , 2020). Men are portrayed as individuals who seek pleasure, power and knowledge outside the family household. Women on the other hand exercise their influence in society within the confinements of the domestic household (Milne , 2020). In the family domain, women are portrayed as having a superior morality and pragmatism.

Step-by-step explanation

In the novel, women's sexuality is objectified in the sense that women's primary function is to reproduce and continue the family bloodline (Snaije, 2012). Women get to exploit their sexuality by using their bodies as a weapon for manipulation and power (Snaije, 2012). This form of exploitation is best portrayed by the character Ursula, who manipulates her own cousin Jose Arcadio Buendia into marrying her, which gives her domain over the Buendia family wealth.

Women bury their sexuality through the possession of qualities such as virginity and old age, which are highly linked towards innocence. The qualities of virginity and old age enables them to gain supernatural clairvoyance through which they are able to perceive things or events in the future (Snaije, 2012). This form of supernatural power is best expressed by Ursula in her ability to study her husband Jose Arcadio's instinctive behavior.

When it comes to happiness and sexuality, women's happiness seems to be pegged upon their ability to control men and have them yield to their desires even at the cost of man's own happiness (Snaije, 2012). This pattern is best revealed by the character Remedios. Remedios is an exquisite beauty who innocently destroys the life of four men who fall prey to the deceptive stature of her appearance (Snaije, 2012). Remedios faces autism which makes it difficult for her to engage in social interaction and communication which blocks access to men in search of her heart.

 In terms of women's freedoms, Garcia argues that women's expressions are confined within the household. They lack concrete knowledge of the outside world and can only dominate within the confinements of the family threshold (Snaije, 2012). Their core duty is being the custodians of the household where they strive to promote the healthy continuation of the family bloodline.

References

Milne , D. (2020). One Hundred Years of Solitude. Encyclopedia Britannica, 3(1), 1-5.

Snaije, M. (2012). Role of Women in "One Hundred Years of Solitude.". McGill University, 3(1), 1-10.