Love in the Time of
Cholera is set at the turn of the century in a
fictional city in the Caribbean. The novel tells
the story of
Florentino Ariza’s deep and unfading love for Fermina Daza. When he
first reveals his feelings to her, she is still young and inexperienced
and is greatly intrigued by her admirer although she does not even know
him. The two characters almost never talk to each other but write daily
letters, and the girl eventually promises to marry her secret lover.
However, as Fermina grows up, she realizes that their relationship is
not based on love but merely on a childish illusion, so she breaks off
the engagement. Instead she marries Dr. Juvenal Urbino, the most
popular and desired man in the city. During the fifty years of her
marriage, she hardly ever remembers Florentino, but he, on the
contrary, continues to think of her as his only love. Despite the
innumerable affairs which he has, Florentino never develops an
attachment to another woman; he spends his life dreaming about the
moment when Dr. Urbino will die, and Fermina will be free. When this
event occurs, Florentino immediately reminds Fermina of his love, and
she is scandalized by the impropriety of his words. However, he
persists and she gradually becomes very attached to him – not because
of what he used to be in the past but because of what he is at present.
The two characters set off on a boat trip, and after a while become
lovers. In order to prevent a scandal, Florentino orders the captain to
raise a flag signifying that there is a
cholera infection on board. As
a result, no port will allow the boat to dock, and the two lovers are
destined to travel along the river forever.