Love in the Time of Cholera

Two young lovers who are madly in love with each other are separated due to some factors out of their control. After almost half a century, their destiny gives them one ultimate chance to rekindle their emotions. But can love survive so long? 

A novel, written by Colombian Nobel Prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez in 1985, depicts this unusual, still quite relatable love story of Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza. It feels like their story is not written but woven intricately into the fabric of time. Novel begins in the present when Fermina 's husband Dr. Urbino, one of the prominent figures in his town, a respected physician, dies in an accident. Almost the entire town gathers at their house to pay homage to him, who has given significant service to society for more than 60 years. There is also Florentino in the crowd, who looks after important arrangements of funeral, helps in every way possible, puts forward his proposal one more time to Fermina, now a widow who lived a married life with a man for more than 50 years. It is interesting to know how she responds and how this new chapter of love begins. Then we take a turn into their past, the time of the first blossoms of their love. How it started, how it continued and filled their lives with intense passion and longing for each other and how it was put to its untimely end. 

This Love for Fermina serves in her later life like a leaf or feather one keeps in a notebook, that gives a touching ride of nostalgia. But for Florentino this love happens like a cancer, almost incurable, even after all kinds of medications. He can keep himself intact, but he is constantly tormented by pangs of love, can not ignore what is deeply rooted in his soul for so many years. As a reader, you can't help but feel sorry for him, pity him and his helplessness in love. He can't dedicate himself to anyone, can't give his heart an another chance for someone else, because Fermina Daza is residing there as crowned goddess. 

One another aspect which this novel has covered is the reality of married life. It showcases how easily we assume this artificially put- on appearance of being happy with each other as love. Living together, satisfying each other's needs, fulfilling domestic duties, infinite ability of making all sorts of adjustment makes marriage work, even though there is very less or no love at its base. It also makes you wonder about necessity of romantic love. 

Other than this incredible love story, novel also covers a span of history in which many events changed the entire course of human life at that time. This slow transformation is at the background of all major actions. It presents all shades of love- innocent,mad,illicit, illogical, carnal as well. At some points, even you don't like Florentino's helplessness, his hyper- unrealistic romanticism,too many details and descriptions, slow pace of actions. But it all ends well! 

According to me, this book helps to understand and improve your ideology of love. Definitely not the best book I have read, but one of the best I have read so far. I can suggest it to any young reader who can relate with these characters and theme easily.

- Neha Jyoti Pradip Joshi 

     ( 19/07/2023)