In the third episode of One Hundred Years of Solitude, "A Daguerreotype of God," the Buendía family's narrative unfolds with the introduction of Rebeca, a distant cousin of Ursula, who arrives in Macondo under the care of hide dealers, bearing a letter and the bones of her parents. Rebeca's silence and refusal to eat become a challenge for the family, particularly for Arcadio and Amaranta, who delight in teasing her. Ursula, undeterred, takes it upon herself to break Rebeca's silence and encourage her to eat, a task that becomes an arduous battle of wills.
As Rebeca's nights are spent on a swing chair beside the sack of her parents' bones, Arcadio grapples with the pain of not being fully accepted by the family. Aureliano, in an attempt to connect with his brother, teaches him how to read and write. However, this act of brotherhood is overshadowed by the concern that Aureliano is becoming increasingly isolated from the world.
Jose, in his quest for knowledge, encourages Aureliano to explore the world beyond the confines of their home. Meanwhile, Ursula's persistence with Rebeca pays off when, after a dramatic confrontation, Rebeca finally eats and begins to integrate into the family as the obedient daughter. However, this transformation is not without its consequences, as Amaranta's jealousy of Rebeca's newfound place in the family dynamics begins to simmer.
The episode takes a dark turn with the arrival of the insomnia plague in Macondo, brought by Rebeca. While Visitacion stays to warn the family, the Buendías, in their denial, ignore the warning, leading to the town's affliction by the plague. Jose, initially perceiving the lack of sleep as a blessing, soon realizes the dire consequences as the townspeople's memories begin to deteriorate, leading to a crisis of recognition and violent disputes.
In a miraculous twist, Melquíades rises from the dead to concoct remedies and cure the plague-stricken town, bringing relief and exhaustion in his wake. The family, now grown, takes their first picture under Melquíades' guidance, an event that poignantly excludes Arcadio, deepening his sense of alienation.
Jose's fascination with Melquíades' camera leads him on a quest to capture God in a daguerreotype, an obsession that consumes his time and attention. Aureliano, on the other hand, is drawn into the world of experience when his friends encourage him to visit a sex worker, an encounter that leaves him unchanged and underscores his virginal state.
As the family prepares for a party to introduce their daughters to society, Pietro Crespi arrives with a pianola, captivating the girls and sparking a rivalry between Rebeca and Amaranta for his attention. Ursula, in her efforts to expand the house and plan the party, is met with frustration when Jose dismantles the pianola, only to repair it in time for the event.
Rebeca's dissatisfaction with the party's suitors and her rekindled appetite for soil signal a return to her eccentric ways. The episode concludes with a government messenger's arrival, bringing news of a judicial officer's appointment and the mandate to paint Macondo's houses blue, leaving Jose to wonder who Apolinar Mascote is, as the town's narrative continues to unfold.