fortheloveofcholera-blog
for the love of cholera
21 posts
A blog run by Andrea, Annette, Christina, and Cindy.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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by Annette
Last Friday, question 16
At first I thought Florentino was cold hearted. But afterward it seems Florentino is a man of  strong emotions, and a tormented one at that. He never let his affairs get beyond a certain point, his lovers describing him as a man who asked for everything but gave nothing back. This was all to preserve his first and best(?) love, for Fermina. But America was different. Mainly because she was so young. Florentino raised her, watched her grow up, turned her into a woman. Florentino was her father/grandfather and lover, that is a unique if twisted bonded. Thus the love he had for her was different, a first unto itself. But he was so determined, so set on Fermina he denied it, resulting in her death and then denied his grief. This denial is proof he felt strongly for her, as his later confession.
Monday, question 12
This quote suggests that Urbino’s problems have more to do with his mind than his body. This is reinforced with the reference to children, ” recommended pediatric as the most honest specialization, because children are sick only when they are in fact sick”. Children are simple about what they want. If they want candy they’ll say it, if they don’t like green they’ll leave them on the plate etc. Adults are a different matter, they are burdened with stress, worries, fear and pride, so that it comes in the way of their expression. This is what Urbino is suffering from. This quote also marks a turning point  for Urbino, for this is not something he thought he’d have a problem with, ” Dr. Juvenal Urbino, never thought a physician his age, would not be able to overcome the uneasy feeling that he was ill when he was not. Or what was worse not believing he was, out of pure scientific prejudice”. This uncertainty concerning his body reflects an uncertainty about himself. which leads to Urbino  realizing he needs someone who understands him later on in the passage, so he turns to Fermina. Having an affair, feeling unsure about himself, it kind of sounds like Urbino is having a mid-life crisis.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Florentino's love and Cholera
Florentino's love stands in opposition to everyday reality and seems to be completely resistant to rational understanding (pining after someone you barely know for half a century is in no way rational). His notions of love are for the most part derived from literature in the form of sappy love poems. But reality always has a way in making itself knows, in Florentino’s case it comes often times in the form of excrement. The bird droppings that fall on Fermina's embroidery when they meet as teenagers in the park and the intestinal disruption that betrays him when they meet following Dr. Urbino's death are not merely obscure metaphors of how love set us “free” but are instead are reminders of the material world around the characters.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Sniff sniff
In the book when smell is mentioned love inevitably follows. When the story first opens, Dr.Urbino mentions that the scent of almonds always reminded him of unrequited love. Later on Dr.Urbino blames Fermina’s habit of smelling cloths as the reason for the “two bitter years of his life”where his wife left him.Because It is through this habit that Fermina begins to suspect that her husband was having an affair when she detects “an odor impossible to define…something peculiar to human nature.
 The act of smelling some tends to be a rather intimate act. Florentino in an effort to be closer to Fermina eats flowers because they smell like her. Fermina is able to tell the difference in Urbino’s cloths because she has been with him a long time and knows what he smells like.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Florentino's Deteriorating Life
Written by Christina.
In addition to Florentino never getting any closer to Fermina despite all his years of stalking, his mom is ridden with disease and losing her memory. He has to, or chooses to, witness the love of his life living a 'happy', married life with her son. His mom doesn't even recognize her own son, which adds to the depressing mood of this section. However, what Florentino doesn't know is that Fermina was also thinking about him the other night. This "connection" between the two shows some foreshadowing or hinting of what may happen. Even though Florentino is nothing but a shadow of a man to Fermina, she still wonders what life will be like if she had chosen him. By describing Florentino's suffering and sad life, the author is connecting him and Fermina. They are both going through a sad phase of their life, which adds a bit of hope of them getting back together maybe.
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Urbino promised Fermina, 
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Which quickly turned into:
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Meanwhile, Florentino's all:
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Da Sad Pigeon Lady.
Written by Cindy.
The most significant role of Florentino’s relationship with Olimpia Zuleta was to show Florentino’s change in character and the difference in his perception of love from his younger self. At this point in the story, Florentino has had several affairs with different women, and the “beautiful pigeon fancier” was just another of his conquers. The only difference of this relationship was its tragic ending, which sent a warning and evoked dreadful feelings within Florentino. However, it wasn’t his responsibility of Olimpia’s death that terrorized him the most, it was the fear of Fermina Daza finding out about his secret affairs with other women. Imagine, the Florentino who wrote 70 page long love letters, drank perfume out of crazy love and was utterly devastated when news of Fermina’s wedding reached him had transformed into a man who has less regard for a being’s life than his image in another person’s mind. Though he is still driven by the same love as when he was younger, there is an apparent change that could be seen after his affair with Olimpia in his character from a caring and attentive young man to a colder and almost selfish man. 
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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By Christina.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Analysis of Leo XII
Written by Annette.
Uncle Leo XII, is Florentino’s uncle from his father’s side and his the current President of the Board of Directors and General Manager of the River Company of the Caribbean. He is described to be a “genial lunatic” fond of singing, within the outer layer of a “souless merchant”. This creates the image of an eccentric businessman which he is. as observed by others, “His strange nature, which someone once praised in a speech as lucid dementia” and his own words, “I am a poor man with money…”. But he is an effective businessman, “He had come from nothing, like his dead brothers, and all of them went as far as they wished despite the stigma of being illegitimate children”. 
In the beginning of his introduction Uncle Leo is angry at Florentino for throwing away a good opportunity, this says he cares for his nephew’s future to some degree. This proves to be true as Uncle Leo gives Florentino a position but he is to start from the bottom of the chain. Uncle Leo doesn’t go soft on Florentino, a bit of tough love going on.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Leona Cassiani
Written by Andrea.
Leona Cassiani is a black woman whom Florentino meets on the trolley and mistakens as a whore, though he later finds out that she wanted job at his uncle’s company. Florentino helps her get a job and out of courtesy and gratitude she refuses all positions that would put her above Florentino. She is most likely the only woman in his life that he is not related to and doesn't engage in sexual intercourse; proving to Florentino a man can can be friends with a woman without having sex. She is described as the one true woman in Florentino’s, She does not ask for anything in return instead ruthlessly helps him ascend the ladder of the business cares for him like a mother. Leona Cassiani is arguably Florentino’s true love.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Love in the Time of GIFs - "free" post
by Christina.
A basic summarization in the form of GIFs.
Florentino is lovesick and all
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  and  
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, unable to go on.
He proceeds to write love letters for people expressing all his inner feels being all 
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Meanwhile, Dr. Urbino and Fermina are flirting like
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and Fermina's like 
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She thinks of it as a medical lesson, like
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All the while in Europe she enjoys life and is all 
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Meanwhile Florentino finds women who perhaps look at him like 
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and he's like 
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and beds them to make up for his broken heart.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Fermina returns. (could not think of a witty title)
Written by Cindy 
Returning from her trip to Europe, we notice that Fermina undergoes plenty of physical changes, specifically her external appearances, she is described as “more beautiful than ever”. She has also taken this time to bond and learn more about Urbino, when they returned together, not only is she 6 months pregnant with a child, but her affection for Urbino has also grown. However, in terms of character, she is still headstrong, independent and determined regardless of the countless changes she has gone through in the two years she spent in Europe. In fact, she sums it up in one short sentence: “It’s not so much.”
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Hildebranda and Florentino (pg. 135)
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written by Annette
The comment between Urbino and Hlidebranda, “Nothing could be simpler. Let us see who finshes first.” Is a flirtatious invitation from Urbino to Hildebranda to take off their shoes, which advances to Hildebranda taking off her hoop skirt. This is an attempt to incite Fermina’s jealousy. It’s may bear tinges of flirtation but it’s not because the description of their conversation prior was,” Very soon they began to laugh, to exchange jokes as if they were old friends”. Also, “they pretended that Fermina did not understand them, although they knew she not only understood but was listening well, which is why they did it”, indicates the act was intentional and one can infer in was to incite her jealousy because Hildebranda is interested in another and Urbino likes Fermina. 
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Scene between Hildebranda and Urbino (pg. 129)
written by Andrea.
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Hildebranda meets Florentino for the first time. The audience is able to see Florentino from the eyes of a stranger. He is described as being “sad and ugly.” Hildebranda’s perspective offers some insight into what Fermina saw when she saw Florentino after she returned from her trip and why she broke up with him. Until then they had seen each other many times but for the most part it was from a distance what she knew of him she gleanded through letters. His image stands in stark contrast with Hilderbanda’s description of Urbino when she meets him for the first time. They represent two classes at opposite ends of the social spectrum.,
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Fermina's Destructive Weapons
written by Christina and Cindy.
This quote comes after she receives hate mail from people who are against their “relationship”. She is able to decline the good actions of her suitors and defend herself against those who pursue her by blocking them out willingly. She is used to fending off suitors, not haters. However, Fermina cannot defend herself against the malice-filled haters as it’s not up to her and she cannot refuse other people’s ill will as she can with their love proclamations.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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The Misquotation of St. Thomas
Written by Christina.
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At this time, Urbino is trying to flatter Fermina and say something smart. "Thank God" may at first seem to be an expression like how its used nowadays, but at a second glance Urbino is telling Fermina to literally thank God for her characteristics or bessings of being 'a new-sprung rose'. Urbino misquotes St. Thomas by simplifying or generalizing what was originally said, since he most likely cannot remember exactly the original saying. He still tries to sound smart and wise, even if he misquotes the saying. Through this quote we can tell that Urbino is trying to please Fermina and get her affections by showing her that he is not only smart and courteous, he is also a good Christian.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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Sexual Tension in the Air: Dr. Urbino & Lorenzo Daza
Written by Cindy Z. 
The setting of this scene is at Fermina’s house at night, when Dr. Juvenal Urbino’s courtship towards Fermina Daza had just begun. However, throughout later pages; it seems more like he is appealing to the all-too-willing father rather than Fermina herself. The significance of this quote is then to show the newly acquired goal and determination, though terribly drunk, of Dr. Juvenal Urbino to successfully court Fermina through her father, Lorenzo Daza, whose main and only goal for Fermina is to marry her to a great house.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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The Impurity Of Water
written by Andrea.
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The water in the cisterns were long thought of as the cause of the scrotal hernia many of men in the city endured. But whether or not it was the men in the city bore their enlarged testicles with pride. Dr.Urbino knew from his studies abroad that a hernia was nothing to be proud of and was not caused by impure water rather the weakening of the membrane wall allowing a section of the small intestine to ported outward. But most people in the city did not study abroad and still held to their superstitions, even the doctors as the Misericdia Hostpital still believed that standing in beds of water would prevent disease from spreading up from the legs. Dr.Urbino represented new and foreign ideas that more often then not were not appreciated.
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fortheloveofcholera-blog · 12 years ago
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“he gambled, too, on being with them”
written by Annette.
“he gambled, too, on being with them” something similar also appears in page 54 when describing Florentino. But in Florentino’s case it was “Despite his air of weakness, his reserve, and his somber clothing, the girls in his circle held secret lotteries to determine who would spend time with him, and he gambled on spending time with them until the day he met Fermina Daza and his innocence came to an end”, while for Urbino it was “Seduced by his personal charms and by the certainty of his family fotune, the girls in his circle held secret lotteries on who would spend time with him and he gambled, too, on being with them, until he succumbed without resistence to the plebian charms of Fermina Daza”. So both were popular among girls in their social circles, but for Florentino it was “despite” all his exterior flaws and for Urbino they were “seduced” by what his superior exterior and what it promised. This comparison alludes to some hidden quality Florentino possesses that won these ladies over. In addition Florentino gambled on “spending time” with the girls and Urbino also gambled except on “being with” them. “being” with them suggests something slightly deeper and more scandalous than just “spending time with them. And finally Florentino’s “innocence” ended upon meeting Fermina. There is no subject who ended it, it just ended as if there was no control of it, except perhaps the divine. This reflects Florentino's lack of control in regards of his love for Fermina. Urbino on the other hand “succumbed” to her “plebian” charms, “plebian” roughly means common or lower class. The action of succumbing is somewhat voluntary, and his marriage and love to Fermina is not so intense and twisted as Florentino’s. But also the ending of innocence and the act of succumbing foreshadow what is to come, the gradual or abrupt fall into love.
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