Love in the Time of Cholera begins with a man who commits suicide because he would rather die than contract the most horrific disease, not cholera but old age. It is fitting that Marquez ends the book with a section delving deeply into the impact of love for the aging especially as readers witness an elderly couple, completely isolated from the world, finally able to freely love each other.There is a cruel stereotype that older people simply cannot have romantic lives and certainly do not and/or should not date and marry. Although some of us may harbor the same feelings, the desire to throw up at the sight of an elderly couple kissing, we probably do not care enough and certainly are not offended enough to change the circumstances. Florentino may have spent all those years keeping up his appearance and attempting to look youthful as he waited for Fermina, but he can never escape the prejudices people have against elderly lovers. Three characters, America, Ofelia, and Urbino, are notable for their views on love and old age.
Florentino’s relationship with America is extremely odd and most likely a topic of its own. The complexities of America’s feelings are revealed when Florentino tells her he will marry and she is caught off guard, almost panicking. Initially, she probably is shocked because she cannot believe that Florentino would marry someone if he already has her. She is further baffled because she finds it absurd that a man of Florentino’s age would consider love a possibility and marriage a goal. In the end, when she commits suicide, America still cannot believe that a man would pick an old woman who has lost her beauty on the outside instead of a youthful woman like herself (295).
Ofelia Daza can only be considered a dramatic and miserable woman as she shouts, “Love is ridiculous at our age, but at theirs it is revolting.” She is the epitome of a person who cannot accept the fact that love transcends age. She shields her prejudice by accusing Florentino of being a pervert who would only mar the family’s dwindling pride and status. At last, she is banned from the house, rightfully so, for her rude and narrow attitude (323).
Urbino Daza is much more kindhearted than his sister since he almost nurtures the Fermina-Florentino relationship, asking Florentino to continue offering his good companionship to his widowed mother. However, Urbino’s carefree attitude does not excuse his belief that old people are burdening humanity and slowing down progress and at a certain age, old people should be isolated together to help each other in their last years. When Urbino discovers that Florentino would be accompanying Fermina on the trip, he is utterly confused, but Marquez does not explain the origins of his perplexity. Is he another non-believer of love at any age? No, Urbino is different because he would never stop his mother’s friendship. Happiness should override any unwritten social code (312, 326).
Many may believe, myself included when I first finished the novel, that Florentino never got his true dream until he was quite close to death. The book chronicles a pitiful story of a man wasting his entire life chasing after women he did not want. Looking at the ending as a pathetic copout is the true tragedy. Like approaching old age with an open mind, a reader should look at the ending with optimism. The journey Florentino took to be with Fermina is the meaning of his life and that is all that matters (590).
