Bird Symbolism In Chronicle Of A Death Foretold

From the start of the novel, Marquez uses the presence of birds to represent danger and temptation. He establishes this motif early on, with the death of Dr. Juvenal Urbino in the first chapter. The novel states, “Dr. Urbino caught the parrot around the neck… at seven minutes after four on Pentecost Sunday” (Marquez 42). The parrot’s role in Urbino’s death defines the bird as a symbol of darkness throughout the rest of the novel. In addition to Urbino’s death, Marquez’s description of the crows in Fermina Daza’s childhood home, help foreshadow the role of the animal throughout the rest of the novel. The narrator says, “But no one could bear the continual flapping… with the reek of funeral wreaths (Marquez 22); further instilling a morbid association to birds.
For example, when Florentino and Fermina initially meet in Chapter Two. The narrator says, “... she raised the embroidery frame… for the first time, her face aflame” (Marquez 61). The bird defecating on the embroidery following Fermina’s acceptance of Florentino’s letters is a tell tale sign of disaster. Marquez includes the bird in this pivotal scene to foreshadow the doom of their relationship. Another example of symbolism is Marquez’s reference to prostitutes in the novel as “birds.” He says, “At least once a week he ended the evening with a little bird, as he called them, one of many who sold love in a transient hotel for sailors.” Also, “... because the most tarnished birds argued over who would have the chance to go to bed with him…” (Marquez 63). Further emphasizing the temptation and lust involved with