Love in Anna Karenina and Love in the Time of Cholera - Essay Example

Florentino, a telegraph operator, falls in love with Fermina, a very beautiful student. Their relationship is kept as a secret through the help of Escolastica, Fermina’s Aunt. Their romance is enhanced through the exchange of telegrams and love letters. However, Fermina’s father found out about the relationship between the two and was not pleased by the idea since he had higher ambitions for Fermina than the modest Florentino. As such, he relocates Fermina and the family to another city.

Despite the distance, the two love birds still communicate through telegraphs. Nevertheless, when the Fermina returns, she finds out that her love for Florentino has faded away, and they were like strangers now. Then, she decided to break-up with Florentino and returned all his love letters (Marquez, “Love in the Time of Cholera”). She considered the engagement that they had an illusion. Subsequently, Dr. Juvenal Urbino, an elegant and successful national hero, starts to court Fermina.

Fermina’s father approves their engagement due to his wealth, and they eventually get married. Urbino emerges to be a doctor who is devoted to the eradication of Cholera. On the other hand, Florentino is not discouraged by Fermina’s move and is determined to gain a fortune and fame so as to win back his love. Urbino and Fermina continue living together in their old age. However, after Urbino falls from a ladder after attempting to get his pet, a parrot, off a mango tree, he dies, and the patience of Florentino was about to bear fruits.

After the funeral of Urbino, Florentino does not hesitate in proclaiming his love for Fermina. He claims that he has upheld his faithfulness to her for the entire period he has been married to Urbino. At first, Fermina balks but finally grants Florentino a second chance, after spending over fifty years apart (Holden, “Movie Review”). This story depicts a situation in which a person gives up his ambitions in life for the sake of love.