Active Reading Chapter 2

We find out that JAB (Jose Arcadio Buendia) and Ursula are cousin. When JAB and Ursula married, Ursula became frightened that if they had children they would be deformed like the others who practiced incest in their family. Their aunt and uncle also practiced incest and they gave birth to a pig-tailed child. Ursula was so frightened that she put on a chastity belt, so they would not be able to have sex. JAB is ridiculed by most of the village since has not gotten Ursula pregnant in the six months they have been pregnant. One evening at a cock fight, after losing to JAB, Prudencio Aguilar insults JAB's man hood by saying: "Maybe that rooster of yours can do your wife a favor." JAB then calmly walks away and gets a weapon and returns ten minutes later and kills Prudencio. He then goes to Ursula and forces her to remove her chastity belt. JAB makes passionate love to his wife for first since their marriage.

Several months later, Ursula starts seeing the ghost of Prudencio. JAB, filled with guilt leaves his village. A band of people follow him on his journey for a new home. 14 months into their journey Ursula gave birth to a normal, pig-tailed-less child. 2 years after they left, JAB founded Macondo. The name came to JAB in a dream.

Jose II was grown into a young man with a giant "member". This attracts a local girl, Pilar Ternera, who invites Jose II to her house. After a few late night visits, Jose II gets Pilar Pregnant. Jose II is distraught by the news and stops visiting Pilar. Ursula does not notice Jose II's weary state because of her new born child, Amaranta. The gypsies return to town with shows and fun, Jose II meets a young gypsy girl and has sex with her. He runs away with the gypsies as they live to escape his obligation's to Pilar. Ursula pursues the gypsies, leaving her family behind. She returns later without Jose II, but with the route to JAB's dreams.

Magical Realism: Jose II's penis size is an example of magical realism. The size of his penis is said to be more like an animals than a humans.

Character Development: Jose II was become a young man, but is also a coward. He runs away from is problem instead of facing it. Ursula is now, without a doubt, the leader of the village. She goes after her son, without any help, while JAB needs a group of men to look for her.

Quotes: "It’s like an earthquake." Jose II explaining to his brother what sex feels like.

"On the first contact the bones of the girl seemed to become disjointed with a disorderly crunch like the sound of a box of dominoes, and her skin broke out into a pale sweat and her eyes filled with tears as her whole body exhaled a lugubrious lament and a vague smell of mud." Jose II's penis is too big for the gypsy girl's small frame.