Love in the Time of Cholera Chapter Summary & Analysis | Chapter 6

Chapter 6 Summary

Fermina Daza begins her life as a widow by ridding the house of everything that belonged to or reminds her of Dr. Urbino; she auctions off furniture and things she had bought on her honeymoon trip-she is disgruntled to find that these things are now considered antiques-and burns his suits in a tremendous bonfire. Removing his things does not clear him from her thoughts, however, and at first she feels his presence as an amputee feels a phantom limb. When she recalls Florentino's shocking announcement after the vigil for Dr. Urbino, she develops a growing rage, until at last she writes him the three pages of "insults and base provocations" that he finds on his doorstep.

Although he has not spoken with Fermina since repeating his vows to her in her home, Florentino tells his current mistress, the adolescent América Vicuña, that he is going to marry. She does not...
(read more)