“The races condemned to one hundred years of solitude have not had a second opportunity on this earth (Marquez 417)”, Gabriel Garcia Marquez speaks these powerful last words in One Hundred Years of Solitude It rings true. Marquez demonstrates through numerous examples that human beings cannot exist in isolation. For the race to survive, people must be independent. Examples of loneliness are found throughout the century-long life of the Buendia family and Macondo. Solitude in OHYOS reveals both physical and emotional aspects by being shown individually, geographically and romantically. Although they have no control over it, the characters' intention reflects the desire to be left alone. Their destiny means oblivion and solitude. OHYOS begins with geographic isolation. José Arcadio Buendia shouts: “Damn! Macondo is surrounded by water on all sides! (Mark 12). » The idea that Macondo is an island is no longer relevant. The city appears cut off from the rest of the world. Ursula and José Arcadio Buendia seek solitude. By founding Macondo, José Arcadio Buendia escaped the murder of Prudencio Aguilar. Eventually forcing them to retreat, Aguilar's ghost haunts them. The family seems to remain very involved there. Much of this represents Spanish culture. Finding multiple generations of the same family living in the same house demonstrates that this is not uncommon in Spanish-speaking countries. The Buendia household still has various relatives within it. While claiming not to be the only explanation, the family's incest critiques a theme throughout the novel and symbolizes a significant factor in the loneliness of this family. The family eventually becomes detached and isolated because they rarely turn to others...... middle of paper...... it's inevitable. Characters like Ursula try to combat loneliness by maintaining social relationships, while Amaranta gives up and accepts loneliness. Things like this give more importance to the loneliness of the title. The solitude perfectly reflects the colonization that took place in the 16th century and later in the 19th century, once the people are free they do not know how and where to use this newfound freedom. Marquez never fails to surprise with his humor, whether it's fat woman eating competitions or balancing beer bottles on penises. Understanding context becomes a minor detail when appreciating beauty and although there are many questions in OHYOS that need answers, Márquez manages to give it in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech: "The Races Condemned a hundred years of solitude will have, at last and forever, a second opportunity on this earth.”