Reflective Blog for Chapters 3-6

There were many interesting motifs and themes intertwined within chapters 3-6 of One Hundred Years of Solitude. I thought that the constant changing of time periods actually had a flow and I could understand it, for the most part. It is interesting how within only three chapters it seems like a whole book has passed because Marquez has already illustrated the lives of the Buendia family through three generations. The theme of solitariness is intriguing if you analyze its cause. Solitude comes from losing relationships, whether it is a loss from their memory, reality or sanity. Solitude is also born from loss, sickness, sin or fear. Solitude came from outside events and, for some people (like Rebeca) from their internal character.
It was interesting how the theme of rebellion was sustained. From the last chapters, Jose Arcadio rebelled when he left with the gypsies; as did Ursula. Jose Arcadio Buendia also rebelled with his bold inventions and his explorations of the world beyond Macondo. However, Marquez has become creative in representing this theme. For example, It is ironic how Rebeca takes comfort in eating dirt and peeling crusted paint from the walls. She rebels by continuing this habit even when Ursula puts "cow gall unto the coutyard and...hot chili on the walls". They are trying to tame nature. This could be symbolic of h ow Europeans try to tame natives. This could possibly be foreshadowing for when colonists come to Macondo with their own societal expectations.
I thought that it was funny how Cataure, the Indian, thought that Insomnia was contagious and how everyone "caught it". It was really funny how Jose Arcadio Buendia puts a sign on a cow telling everyone what to do with it.
Jose Arcadio and his brother Aureliano are a juxtaposition. Jose Arcadio has a free spirit while Aureliano is more rational and scientific.
It's very interesting how the society of Macondo seems to be evolving to become more modern in such a short period of time. They have already been exposed to Christianity and they have a slight democracy (with a two-party system). I think this evolution is occuring so fast because the only people who seem to be skeptics is Jose Arcadio Buendia. However, this fast evolution caused a war for stupid reasons.
I was pretty frustrated with Amaranta when she wouldn't marry Crespi and causes him to kill himself. That was pretty selfish.