Chapter 6 Summary

Colonel Aureliano Buendia leaves Macondo to join the revolution, leaving Arcadio in charge. At first Arcadio is rather benign but he slowly becomes a monstrous dictator, inflicting all of the worst governmental crimes upon the populace. Eventually his rule becomes so corrupt that Ursula curses him in public and all fear and detest him; Arcadio responds by rejecting his Buendia heritage and name. As Arcadio becomes increasingly cruel, Pietro Crespi continues his lengthy courtship of Amaranta. Then the cruel and bitter Amaranta exposes her real feelings and excludes Pietro Crespi entirely. Utterly rejected, he moons about for a few weeks and finally ends his life by suicide. While the mourning of Pietro Crespi envelops the town, Arcadio, never informed as to his biological birth, becomes increasingly attracted to Pilar Ternera. He attempts to use his power as town magistrate to compel her to...