Explanation of the Buendía family tree from One Hundred Years of Solitude

Includes minor SPOILERS for the first season of One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Netflix One Hundred Years of Solitude examines the lives of the Buendía family, although it can be difficult to follow as the series progresses. The TV series is based on the acclaimed classic novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a sprawling epic examining the Buendía family through multiple generations in the city of Macondo. One of the book's biggest challenges, however, is keeping track of the enormous family tree, where many characters have similar names. In One Hundred Years of Solitude cast, the actors change due to the story's time jumps, increasing the challenge.

Notably, One Hundred Years of Solitude The season one finale only covers the first half of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel, so the series' family tree isn't as big as it is in the book. Season 2 will expand the tree with future generations of the Buendía family. For now, using José Arcadio Buendía as the family's centerpiece, there are three generations of Buendías in the series who are vital to understanding Márquez's story.

José Arcadio Buendía (Marco González and Diego Vásquez)

The Patriarch of the Buendía Family and Founder of Macondo

José Arcadio Buendía is the patriarch of the Buendía family and founder of Macondo. In your hometown, married his cousin Úrsula, whose family believed their children would be deformed. Because of this, the pair spent a long time without having sex, until José Arcadio Buendía was insulted about the matter after a chicken fight. José Arcadio Buendía killed the man, named Prudencio Aguilar, throwing a spear at his neck. After killing him, the man's presence began to haunt José Arcadio Buendía's house, forcing him to move.

José Arcadio Buendía wanted to establish a new home for his wife and their community beyond the mountains, believing they would find oceans. The journey to what would become Macondo was long and dangerous, and they ended up giving up on their original objective, moving away from the sea. José Arcadio Buendía is a curious dreamer who spends most of his life secluded in his workshop, dedicating himself to various sciences such as alchemy and astronomy in the hope of realizing the wonders of his imagination. This often leaves her family without a father, much to Ursula's dismay.

Úrsula Iguarán (Susana Morales and Marleyda Soto)

The wife of José Arcadio Buendía and the matriarch of the Buendía family

Úrsula Iguarán is the wife of José Arcadio Buendía and matriarch of the Buendía family who travels with her husband from her hometown, helping to colonize Macondo. She gives birth to three children, including Colonel Aureliano Buendía, the first person born in Macondo. Due to her marriage to her cousin, Ursula has a deep-rooted fear that her family will produce babies with animal characteristicsbut she still maintains qualities of strength and leadership throughout the series. She opens a candy-making business to sell in the Macondo community.

José Arcadio (Édgar Vittorino)

Firstborn son of José Arcadio Buendía

José Arcadio, not to be confused with his father, is the first-born son of José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán, who is notably well endowed. This draws the attention of Pilar Ternera, an adult woman who molests him, and they have a sexual relationship in episode 2, resulting in the birth of their child. However, when Pilar Ternera reveals that she is pregnant José Arcadio disappears from Macondo for a long time, demonstrating similarity with his father's impulsive personality.

Colonel Aureliano Buendía (Claudio Cataño)

Second son of José Arcadio Buendía

Colonel Aureliano Buendía is the second son of José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán, the first person born in Macondo. Aureliano Buendía is shown from an early age to have premonitionsdemonstrated by a scene in which he predicts that a bowl will fall off a table despite it not being near the edge. Aureliano Buendía's life is one of cyclical violence and myth as a military leader, as he is the subject of Márquez's masterful opening line, used in both the novel and the TV series:

“Many years later, before the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía would remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover the ice.”

In addition to being a soldier, Colonel Aureliano Buendía follows his father in certain aspects, pursuing a deep fascination with crafts. He also develops a talent for writing poetry, demonstrating a romanticized aspect of his personality. Besides José Arcadio Buendía, Colonel Aureliano is perhaps the most deeply fascinating character in One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Amaranta Buendía (Loren Sofía Paz)

Firstborn daughter of José Arcadio Buendía

Amaranta Buendía is the firstborn daughter of José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán. She grows up close to Rebeca, her adopted sister, and the two end up fighting over the foreigner's love interest Pietro Crespi, despite Úrsula believing that her sister would be someone Amaranta could relate to. Amaranta's name derives from the Spanish verb for “to love”, which is an important contradiction with her character's personality. frequent struggles to develop romantic crushes on people after Pietro.

Rebeca (Akima Maldonado)

Adopted daughter of José Arcadio Buendía

Rebecca is the adopted daughter of José Arcadio Buendía and Úrsula Iguarán who is brought to Macondoson of Nicanor Ulloa and Rebeca Montiel. She is initially unable to speak and has a disease known as pica, which makes her desire to consume inedible materials. In a scene from episode 3, Úrsula cures her of her condition, and Rebeca reveals herself to be able to speak clear Spanish after letting out a huge burp. Notably, Rebeca carries a bag with her parents' skeletons.

Arcadio Buendía (Janer Villareal)

Adopted son and biological grandson of José Arcadio Buendía through José Arcadio

Arcadio Buendía is the son of Pilar Ternera and José Arcadio, born from an illegitimate love affair when José Arcadio was still a child. At the end of episode 2, Pilar Ternera arrives at José Arcadio Buendía's house to offer Arcadio to him and Úrsula, and they take him in as an adopted son while José Arcadio is away. Arcadio ends up becoming one of the city's leaders in the absence of Colonel Aureliano Buendíaalthough he remains a conflicted character.

Aureliano José (Emilio Sánchez Vera)

Grandson of José Arcadio Buendía and son of Colonel Aureliano Buendía

Like Arcadio, Aureliano José is the son of Pilar Ternera, although his father is Colonel Aureliano Buendía. Aureliano José joins his father as a soldier for a time, although he eventually returns to Macondo and pursues his aunt Amaranta and adoptive mother as a love interest. However, Amaranta rejects him claiming that, in addition to breastfeeding him, she is his mother in every imaginable way. He continues to desire her all the time One Hundred Years of Solitude.