One of the biggest mysteries in Love in the Time of Cholera is how two acutely different characters can become dedicated to the same woman. Though they are very different people, they do have one thing beyond Fermina in common: they follow a strict set of principles that eventually breaks down because of passion.


Dr. Urbino lives by, or tries to live by, the set of principles that govern his profession and social class but allows himself to disregard this standards because of love. We first see this when he courts Fermina Daza. He befriends Fermina’s father and gains his favor in order to get closer to the family and Fermina. He also hires a famous pianist to serenade her at night. As would be typical for a member of his social class, he courts Fermina by trying to impress her with everything he can offer as her husband. When Lorenzo Daza’s conflicted past arises, Urbino, in a less romantic but still commanding Darcy fashion, covers up the story to protect the honor of his wife and the whole family. However, this set of class and professional standards break down when he meets Barbara Lynch. Ironically he directly breaks his professional standards first by initiating a relationship with a patient. He also breaks his class and moral standards by having an ongoing affair with Barbara Lynch even though he is married to Fermina. Before his affair, Urbino obsessively followed a strict set of principles but he disregards it almost carelessly when he falls in love with Barbara.


Florentino Ariza also lives by a strict set of moral principles until he loses Fermina’s love and must find a replacement for his passion. When he meets Fermina Daza, Florentino falls instantly in love with her and, subconsciously, creates a set of principles that he believes he must live by in order to stay faithful to Fermina. The biggest part of this commitment is eternal fidelity and the promise to save himself for Fermina. He also believes that he should shower Fermina with letters and attention as a sign of his love for her. He also serenades Fermina and tries to make money so that he can impress and support her. He lives by a set of guidelines because he wants to be fully dedicated and faithful to Fermina. When Fermina breaks off their engagement, however, circumstances change drastically. After he is “robbed of” his virginity, Florentino begins to realize that he doesn’t have to keep to his guidelines because he can replace his passion for Fermina with a passion for women in general. He sleeps with tons of women and lies to most of them about his past and hides his history with Fermina. Arguably, he doesn’t see these things as a betrayal to Fermina but they are a betrayal of his moral code that he followed when he was courting her. When he and Fermina were involved, Florentino followed a standard of behavior to honor her, but after their engagement ends and he finds passion elsewhere, he abandons his guidelines altogether.


Both Florentino and Urbino initially dedicate themselves to a set of standards but abandon them after their loves and passions change. These standards directly tie in with the effects that Fermina has on men since they are set and eliminated as her relationship with each man changes. In a way, the way that both men change their standards shows how Fermina, Florentino, and Urbino are all impacted by love and passion.