On the third year of highschool, book reports piled in. It was then when I first read Love in the Time of Cholera (movie released in 2007). The story is one of the best novels about obsessive love, as my English teacher said.
At that time, I struggled accepting Ariza's "fidelity" towards Fermina so I focused more on the possible symbolisms portrayed by the characters. Warning: Stop here if you have not read the book or watched the movie. Spoiler alert!
Fermina represented the center of the story, which probably relates to almost every individual. The extreme contrasts between Ariza and the Doctor represented antediluvian ways/romanticism and progress, respectively.
Florentino Ariza
Ariza's character is an obsessed nymphomaniac. He falls madly in love (at first sight) with Fermina. After a brief "love affair", which he sees Fermina not too often, hes get rejected. Because of his nonacceptance of the rejection, Ariza dedicates his life to hoping that one day he can win back her love.
Fifty-one years, nine months, and four days. He eagerly waits for the death of Fermina's husband, Dr. Juvenal Urbino. However, despite his "undying love" for Fermina, he sleeps with numerous women, keeping them logged in a diary. Ironically, he convinces himself that he is saving himself for her.
Ariza uses sex as one addict would a narcotic. In my opinion, it is the only way for him to temporarily forget the pain he feels from the breakup. In more ways than one, his love is represented in the form of the sickness cholera. He is insanely in love with her and exhibits subtle obsessive behavior.
Fermina Daza
Fermina represents the independent, insubmissive, sophisticated, and resourceful individual within each of us. At times, she is stubborn but very determined. She knows what she wants and will not stop until she successfully achieves it.
Probably more in the book than in the movie, her nurturing traits are perceived through her love for animals and flowers.
One thing I also questioned althroughout the story is Fermina's so called realization that her love for Ariza was a mere illusion -- it was not true love. She moves on, and goes through several changes in her life. I am wondering whether her fear of disobeying her father truly forbid her to stay with her true love (Ariza?) and instead encouraged her to live a more sophisticated life with the doctor. Was it her maturity that made her realize that she was not in love then? Was it her maturity that made her choose to be with the doctor? It also seemed like her choices were based on the kind of life she would end up having thinking that if she married the boy who worked at the telegram place, she would not have a more prosperous life. Would she have considered staying with Ariza if he had not inherited the shipping line?
Dr. Juvenal Urbino del Calle
Doctor Urbino is the town's most esteemed public figure, known for his studies about cholera. Urbino is supposedly unemotional and uncommunicative, though not unkind.
I think this character is where I struggled the most. In the book, he is dispassionate and emotionless. Whereas, in the movie, you are drawn to him.
In midlife, Urbino has an affair. But because he is an honest man, he is grateful for the revelation (to Fermina). Driven by his immense faith in God, he tries to redeem himself.
Book versus Movie<
There are quite a few differences between the stories. Even in the characters. But, that is expected. I don't have a preference. I liked them both.
Rambling Gypsy