Sample Essay #1: Love in the Time of Cholera Tone
The irony and heavy sarcasm throughout the first passage ridicules
and mocks Dr. Urbino’s and Fermina’s accepted relationship in their
marriage. Marquez uses the powerful word ‘perfect’ to describe the
doctor and then ironically proceeds to demonstrate that he is the exact
opposite of perfect. The mention of the minute tasks that the doctor
fails to complete transforms the tone into one that is harshly mocking
and a little bitter. The use of the insignificant obligations in life
that everyone is capable of doing implies that he also does not do the
bigger more significant and abstract commitments that are involved in
marriage; if he does not close a door or turn off a light then he
certainly does not demonstrate his commitment to Fermina Daza or
express the true emotions of his love for her. The sarcasm is
reinforced with the humor of the Doctor’s complaint, “A man should have
two wives: one to love and one to sew on his buttons.” Beneath the
humor of this quote, his tone expresses bitterness and demonstrates the
impatient and selfish attitude that the doctor has toward his wife. The
Doctor is then ridiculed and dehumanized when takes his first swallow
of coffee or soup everyday because instead of talking to his wife or
simply waiting for it to cool, he instead breaks into a howl, like an
animal. The presence of the words “no longer frightened anyone,” when
describing his howling scene, enforces the idea that this is a common
event in the household. It leads to further humor and sarcasms when the
doctor makes the childish threat to his wife that if he ever was to
leave that house it would be because he was tired of burning his mouth.
This childish temper tantrum ridicules the doctor completely and
demonstrates a humorous and mocking portrayal of their marriage.
The comparison of the excitement of new
freedoms opposed to the dreads of old captivities contributes to a
humorous, mocking, and bitter tone in this second passage. Introducing
the description of the widows’ lives, the choice of the phrase
“restorative idleness of solitude” establishes both the humorous and a
sarcastic tone expressed in this passage. The simple and long forgotten
freedom of the widows, like eating only when they are hunger, add to
the humorous tone because they are things that should be common sense
and things that one should do naturally. At the same time Marquez is
criticizing marriage and mocking the fact that these women have lost
control over their most basic personal needs. From the humorous tone of
their basic needs, Marquez changes to the more profound and abstract
freedom of loving without lies. He implies that many of the marriages
and the love that is generated from them are created or infiltrated
with lies. The alliteration and stark opposition of the two words
‘love’ and ‘lie’ creates an especially powerful portrayal and makes it
stand out from the rest. The question he raises of loving without lies
introduces a more introspective and deep evaluation of love and
marriage. The tone becomes increasingly bitter and almost angry as
Marquez argues that they have been robbed of their right to sleep
peacefully, which in essence represents their right to live peacefully
and be their own person. The fight for half the bed, for half the
night, for half the sheets and for half the air in turn represents the
struggle for power and individuality in the marriage. The final
sentence concludes the passage with a peaceful and calm tone because
the widows, now alone, are able to dream their own dreams and live life
how they desire, although in the final words he leaves us with a
slightly sad tone as he reminds us that when they wake they are still
alone.
The humorous, sarcastic, and mocking tone
of these two passages supports Marquez’s theme of the need for critical
evaluation of marriage and true love. Both of the passages use humor
and sarcasms to reflect the burden and unhappiness that marriage can
result in if one is not truly in love. The first passage mocks the
idea of a “perfect husband” and ridicules the Doctor and his own
stupidity as he is portrayed like a selfish child who howls every time
his coffee is too hot. To reinforce the ideas that were introduced in
the first passage, the second passage continuous the same sarcastic
tone. It differs from the first in the sense that it introduces both a
bitter tone toward marriage and a hopeful tone toward living a free
life with out a spouse. Although the first passage uses Dr. Urbino and
Fermina Daza and the second uses thepposite—widows—to illustrate the
message, they both demonstrate the need for everyone to think about
their own personal values in regards to marriage. Through the
experiences of Dr. Urbino, Fermina Daza, Florentino Ariza, and others,
Marquez demonstrates the imprisonment or freedom that love can bring.
His critical evaluation of marriage and love throughout the book
encourages the reader to look at their own values and to decide their
opinions for themselves.
