“The races condemned to one hundred years of solitude have not had a second chance on this earth (Marquez 417),” Gabriel Garcia Márquez speaks these powerful last words in One Hundred Years of Solitude rings true. Márquez demonstrates with many examples that human beings cannot exist in isolation. In order for the race to survive, people must be independent. Examples of solitude can be found throughout the hundred years of life of the Buendia family and Macondo. Loneliness in OHYOS reveals both physical and emotional aspects by being shown individually, geographically and romantically. While they have no control over this, the characters' intent reflects a desire to be alone. Their fate means being forgotten and alone. OHYOS begins with geographic isolation. José Arcadio Buendia shouts: “Damn it! Macondo is surrounded by water on all sides! (Márquez 12).” The idea that Macondo is an island embraces irrelevance. The city appears cut off from the rest of the world. Ursula and José Arcadio Buendia seek solitude. By founding Macondo, José Arcadio Buendia was fleeing the assassination of Prudencio Aguilar. Ultimately forcing them to retreat, Aguilar's ghost haunts them. The family seems to remain very involved. Much of this portrays Spanish culture. Finding many generations of the same family living in one house shows that it is not uncommon in Spanish-speaking countries. The Buendia house always has several relatives inside it. Claiming not to be the only explanation, family incest criticizes a theme present throughout the novel and symbolizes a significant factor in this family's loneliness. The family eventually breaks away and isolates themselves because they rarely turn to others... middle of paper... it's inevitable. Characters like Ursula try to fight loneliness by cultivating social relationships, while Amaranta gives up and accepts loneliness. Things like this give more importance to loneliness in the title. Loneliness perfectly reflects the colonization that took place in the 16th century and then in the 19th century, when the people were free, they did not know how and where to exploit this newfound freedom. Marquez never fails to surprise with his humor, whether it's fat woman eating contests or balancing beer bottles on penises. Understanding context becomes a minor detail when appreciating beauty and if in OHYOS there are many questions that require answers, Márquez manages to say it in his Nobel Prize acceptance speech: “The races condemned to one hundred years of solitude will have, at least last and forever, a second chance on this earth.”