Chapter 7 Summary

The revolution stalls and the government announces the end of hostilities. Colonel Aureliano Buendia is captured, court-martialed, and sentenced to death. His final request is to be shot in Macondo. He is thus transferred to the prison in Macondo where Ursula visits him and worries about his fate. Colonel Aureliano Buendia, usually able to divine the future, is perplexed that his imminent death does not elicit any visions or feelings. On the day of the execution the government soldiers take the prisoner to the cemetery where they intend to execute him. Fortunately, the cemetery is next to the house of Jose Arcadio and Rebeca and as the soldiers line up to execute Colonel Aureliano Buendia, Jose Arcadio takes his double-barreled shotgun, marches across the street, and commands them to desist. Gratefully, the soldiers and their officer denounce the Conservative government, swear allegiance to...