When the government is mentioned, it is certainly as an outsider that threatens the solitude of Macondo. The gypsies once again symbolize the irony of Macondo's position. Gypsies have experienced solitude both as self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world and also as external oppression. As travelers, gypsies lead a lifestyle that is qualitatively different from the more stable and modern societies. Because of this, gypsies have remained isolated -- their community has as much solitude as Macondo's. Early in the novel, Gypsy Melquiades states, "Science has eliminated distance…in a short time, man will be able to see what is happening in any place in the world without leaving his own house," (p. 3). Here, Gabriel Garcia Marquez coyly hints at the advent of television, which brings the world inside the person's living room. An individual does not need to leave the house to hear people talking, learn about remote destinations, and learn about the world. This is a technological advancement that, like solitude, is both a blessing and a curse. The gypsy's wise saying also refers to the irony of solitude that is the central theme of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel. Gabriel Garcia Marquez suggests that solitude must be skillfully tempered by active and positive caring for others. In One Hundred Years of Solitude, involvement with the outside world crippled the local economy...

The juxtaposition of the time before contact and the time after is clearly hinted at in the passage: "At that time Macondo was a village of twenty adobe houses, built on the bank of a river of clear water that ran along a bed of polished stones, which were white and enormous, like prehistoric eggs." An image of prehistoric eggs symbolizes birth and rebirth, and yet also death because of the radical changes that the earth has undergone. Likewise, Macondo undergoes radical transformations once Ursula discovers the swamp bed passage that links Macondo with the outside world. That link should be cultivated, Garcia Marquez suggests, yet not at the expense of the inner peace of the individual or the community.
One Hundred Years of Solitude portrays the titular notion of solitude from a multiplicity of angles. For one, solitude is an ironic means of achieving illumination and enlightenment. This is represented by the alchemical quests of Jose Arcadio Buendia. Second, solitude can be self-imposed and imposed from the outside world at the same time. The gypsies represent this element of solitude perfectly. Third, solitude must be skillfully tempered so that the individual does not become too self-absorbed. Individuals can enjoy the fruits of solitude, such as illumination and peace, only when love of the world is incorporated into the worldview.