Write a commentary comparing how Marquez characterizes Florentino Ariza in these two passages. What is the writer showing us about this character? What affect does this have on the reader? Are there any references to theme(s)?
Throughout the novel, Marquez expresses the love Florentino Ariza has for Fermina Daza and we are also shown how Florentino copes with this love when Fermina rejects him. Florentino remains to love Fermina for fifty-one years, nine months and four days and it is questionable whether he is obsessive or devoted to her. In this commentary I will be demonstrating how Gabriel Garcia Marquez characterizes Florentino and the references to any themes within the two passages given.
Throughout the two chosen extracts, there are many references to the theme of age. For example, on page 272, Florentino meets a young girl, America Vicuna, who is at the age of fourteen. She is described as still having braces on her teeth and the scrapes of elementary school on her knees. This demonstrates just how young this little girl really is and yet Florentino is extremely intrigued by her presence. Florentino is also perceived as being a venerable old man (page 272) which shows the extreme difference in their ages. Another reference to age is on page 338 and 339, when Florentino is on a boat with Fermina and she is described as having a withered neck and hips with their decaying bones, her thighs with their aging veins. This is the opposite to the previous passage as we are now being shown Florentino with a much older woman who is nearer to him in age. This therefore characterizes him as having a diverse love for women as he does not mind either young or older women as he finds pleasure in the company of those women.
In the extract with America, Florentino seems to enjoy the fact that she is innocent and has not had many experiences in her life and he takes advantage of this by spending Saturdays at the circus, Sundays in the park with ice cream and childish late afternoons, and he won her confidence (page 272). Marquez is illustrating how Florentino is trying to seduce this young girl and is trying to win her affection and possibly love. Marquez is also characterizing him as always planning who he loves and we see this in the statement After so many years of calculated loves, the mild pleasure of innocence had the charm of a restorative perversion. (page 272) This also shows us how Marquez is telling the reader that the actions Florentino is taking with America are socially unacceptable and are considered to be abnormal, which it is as she is only fourteen. On the contrary, we see that Florentino enjoys spending hours holding hands in the armchairs by the railing and exchanging unhurried kisses when he is with Fermina. This explores the fact of how Florentino plans how to win the love of a woman, as he is now doing activities that an older woman would enjoy more as he would not take her to the park to have ice cream as he did with America. This then reinforces how Marquez is trying to represent Florentino as constantly trying to gain the trust of the women he intends to have a sexual relationship with, it is almost as if he is grooming them.
Marquez explains Florentinos first encounters, sexually, with both America and Fermina. With America, it is portrayed as a transformation from a young girl into a young woman. This is supported by the statement that all at once she burst into a flower (page 272). It is also described as Florentino leading her to his slaughterhouse which insinuates that this is a regular occurrence and this word also represents the death of her childhood. As it is being expressed in such a manner, it makes the reader feel disgusted about the situation as in society it is wrong and against the law. On the other hand, Florentinos moment with Fermina was more sensual as he caressed her and they also took their time as they both understood that they needed some courage before taking the final step (page 338). While they waited they spoke of themselves, of their divergent lives (page 339).
Throughout both passages, Marquez conveys Florentino as wooing women to love him and this occurs through him changing how he acts around each female companion and the different activities he organizes. Also, Florentinos time spent with America was a lot more secretive than when he was with Fermina and this is shown by Marquez stating that the extreme difference in their ages placed them beyond suspicion. (page 272) This affirms that it is obvious, to the two lovers, that it is inappropriate to be together but no-one would ever find out about them because it is so absurd to think that such a young girl would fall in love with a man so much older than herself.
(849 words)
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