Essay Sample - Love is Equal to Cholera as Written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

"Love in the Time of Cholera" was written by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The story revolves around three major characters namely; Florentino Ariza, Fermina Daza, and Dr. Juvenal Urbino. The story is more of a love story that revolves around the three major characters. According to the author of the story, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza have known each other since they were kids (Marquez 1). The two have been in love for a long time until when they wanted to get married that Fermina Daza's father separated them by taking her away from their usual resident. Despite the separation, the two were still in love; they exchanged love letters besides the occasional meetings they would have. In the meantime, both of them had found some partners. Daza had met Dr. Juvenal this time, and she got married (Marquez 1). Her love for Ariza did not stop despite having children with Juvenal. The story gets to its peak when Juvenal dies, and Ariza takes advantage to begin seducing Daza once more.

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According to the author of this novel, love is equal to cholera. There are many instances within the novel that might prove the author's claim that love is equal to cholera. Cholera is one of the world's most deadly diseases that is spread through the air. Once a person is affected by cholera, it becomes difficult to treat if not realized early enough. Cholera might lead to a quick death if it is not addressed appropriately. Like cholera, the love between Daza and Ariza has proved to be dangerous because even after both of them get married separately, they still loved one another. After the death of Daza's husband, Ariza feels that he should seduce her again because they are in love. Because they had known each other for a long time and being in love, it becomes easy for them to develop feelings for each other hence it is easier for them to get together.

Another instance that might prove that love is equal to cholera as mentioned in the novel is the fact that Ariza insists on seducing Daza a second time though his manhood is no longer functioning. Just like cholera sticks to its victims irrespective of its impact on the victim, Ariza has decided to stick with Daza though he admits that his manhood no longer functions. He only wants to be with her because he loves her. Ariza says, "Your breasts are sagging, I am a virgin, and my cock is dead, but at least you can give me an enema"(Marquez 1). After their reunion, the two have isolated themselves from other people including Daza's children. The act of isolation is commonly seen among cholera patients. Because they are separating themselves because they are in love, it is to say that love is equal to cholera.

Additionally, the novel implies certain aspects of passion. The nature of passion as represented in this novel is such that it shows for instance that the nature of passion has no boundaries. The passion between Daza and Ariza is perfect evidence that nature knows no boundaries. According to the novel, the two were in love since they were children. After their marriage was rejected and the two were separated, they would still communicate. After some time, they both got married to different partners, but after losing their spouses to death, they reunited to continue with their affair (Marquez 1). Another funny thing about the reunion is that the two lovers are now then adults; Daza has children, but she could not resist Ariza. She leaves her children, and the two isolate themselves to celebrate their love. The power of passion is realized after the readers find out that Ariza's manhood is non-functional as he admits to Daza that they would stay together and enjoy their love story even without having sex. All the above-discussed actions from the two principal characters prove the power of passion. The instances are proof that passion has no barriers.

The other aspect of nature of passion is that passion is timeless. The passion between Daza and Ariza begins when they are children; Daza is barely thirteen years old when Ariza starts writing the love letters for her. The passion continues as the two grow until it reaches a time when they want to marry. Had it not been for Daza's father they might have got married then. After the marriage proposal, Daza was taken away by her father. Besides the rare communication between the two lovers, they were physically separated (Marquez 1). However, the passion remained in them, and when they met a second time, their love was reignited. The passion continued after that until when they got married to different people. Unfortunately, both of them lost spouses, and it provided them with a chance to come together once more. This time Daza was seventy-two years old. The time for which the passion has moved with the two lovers is fantastic. Passion is timeless indeed.

The metaphor, love is equal to cholera as used in the novel would have a meaning based on individual examples from the novel. One of the instances where cholera has been mentioned is when Daza meets Dr. Juvenal at the hospital. While at the hospital, he wrongly diagnoses her with cholera. The error was the beginning of their affection that led to marriage. The instance is represented by the quote below, "At 28 years old, Dr. Juvenal Urbino had been the most desirable of bachelors and had always attributed his falling for the plebeian charms of Fermina Daza as a clinical error, after she was incorrectly diagnosed with cholera" (Marquez 1). The cholera instance at the hospital led to their love. Therefore the metaphor might be describing this situation as love is equal to cholera.

The second example that depicts the metaphor is when Ariza and Daza decide to isolate themselves from other people do that they would enjoy themselves. It was this time that Daza says that they are behaving like cholera victims as shown in this quote, "Do you think we could pass this off as a love story if we spend the rest of our lives going up and down the river pretending to be in quarantine for cholera?" (Marquez 1). Love is equal to cholera, in this case, would be interpreted to mean that the same way cholera victims are separated from other people, love has forced the two lovers to separate themselves from other people. Cholera compares to love directly in this case. The two examples support the metaphor that love is equal to cholera. Love and cholera have similar characteristics, and it is to claim that the two are equal.

The novel has three major characters; Dr. Juvenal, Daza, and Ariza. The three of the characters have relationships among them. The relationship is, however, dominated by love among them. As for Juvenal and Ariza, they barely know each other. There is no primary relationship between the men. Nevertheless, either of the men has a love relationship with the female character, Daza. As the novel begins, the readers are informed of the affection between Daza and Ariza. The two have been in love for a lengthy time (Marquez 1). Their relationship has continued despite their marriage to different spouses. There was a time the two wanted to get married by were barred by Daza;s father. On the other hand, Dr. Juvenal met Daza at the hospital when he mistakenly diagnosed her with cholera. The two began a relationship and would later get married; they had children and lived peacefully until Dr. Juvenal died.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the novel, "Love in the Time of Cholera," would be classified as a love story. Most of the instances within the story are love tales between the major characters of the novel. The novel's contents lead to a metaphor that states that love are equal to cholera. Based on the issues discussed in the novel, the claim is justified. One notable instance it that Daza's husband diagnoses her with cholera mistakenly while they do not know each other. From that instance, the two fall in love and later marry. Since an incident involving cholera led to their marriage, it is claimed that love is equal to cholera. Several other incidences within the novel have proved the term as accurate.

Works Cited

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. Love in the Time of Cholera. Penguin UK, 2014.