So we've discussed over and over again how Macondo is paradisiacal, Edenic, etc., etc. in the early years of its formation. We've also touched upon why Macondo was founded in the first place—Jose Arcadio speared Prudencio Aguilar to death after his manliness was undermined, Prudencio's ghost ends up haunting Jose Arcadio and Ursula, and so to escape the past and memories of Prudencio, the Buendias set off along with a band of loyal followers.
I mean, we can all agree on that, right?
JOSE ARCADIO killed someone, and that's why they leave.
And yet, he finds a way to blame it on his wife instead, claiming that "there'll be no more killings in this town because of you" (Márquez 22); then, of course, he forces her to take off her "chastity pants" at spear-point.
Before Prudencio's murder, this town is noted as "one of the finest towns in the province." Ostensibly, then, it doesn't suffer many tragedies. One could even say that, before this murder, the town is at least in some ways Edenic. (Bear with me here, this is a bit of a stretch.)
Okay, so do the words "Eden" and "Paradise" stir up some fond memories of English class year? Anyone thinking Paradise Lost?
Paradise Lost. Paradise lost by whom, exactly? Well, Milton might point towards Eve as the culprit. He basically characterizes her as vain, jealous, and easily seduced by sin in several parts of Paradise Lost. Through Adam, there are also undertones of women in general being inferior to men. ("Thus it shall befall/ Him who to worth in women overtrusting/ Lets her will rule! Restraint she will not brook/ And left t' herself if evil thence ensure" (Milton 229).
It seems like we have here men blaming women for their own actions— because Jose Arcadio didn't have to kill Prudencio, and Adam didn't have to eat the apple.
But at the end of the day, this really isn't all that uncommon a theme, is it?
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