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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:
The tone of One Hundred Years of Solitude combines straightforward observation of surreal events with political satire. The narrator’s voice is generally detached and objective, presenting extraordinary and fantastical occurrences with an almost journalistic tone. When, for example, an elderly José Arcadio Buendía begins speaking Latin, a language he has never shown much familiarity with, to the spirits who surround him while he is tied to a tree, the novel presents this with the same matter-of-fact tone, as if it hardly warrants explanation.
The novel also has a satirical edge, particularly in its portrayal of political and social issues. Márquez frequently uses irony and dark humor to critique what he considers to be the absurdities and injustices of Latin American history and society. For example, the novel depicts the rise and fall of tyrants, the exploitation of the banana company, and the corruption of political revolutions with a biting, satirical tone that highlights the meaninglessness of these events, despite their often bloody consequences.
When Aureliano Buendía first enters the civil war, for example, he barely knows the difference between the Liberals and Conservatives. After years spent leading troops, hiding from the government, and instigating rebellions, he begins to behave in a manner identical to his political opponents and ultimately grows tired of the war, ending it without gaining any substantial concessions from the Conservative government. The novel, then, casts a cynical, satirical eye on those who turn to combat in order to bring about their political goals.
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