Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: An Analysis
In Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, nearly everyone in the novel seems to know of Santiago Nasar’s impending murder, but almost no one takes action to stop the crime. Each witness has a ready excuse or simply expects someone else to take action. Marquez implies that people must be compelled to take risk on behalf of another person.
Throughout the novel there are witnesses who know Santiago Nasar is going to be killed, but do not attempt to impede it from happening. These witnesses have different reasons that justify their actions. One of them is hate; which is evidenced with the character of Victoria Guzman. Guzman keeps resentment towards Santiago Nasar, owing to her fling with Nasar’s father in the “fullness of her adolescence” (8) and Nasar’s intentions to “tamed” (8) her daughter (Divina Flor). Guzman finds out they are going to kill Santiago, but does not warn him because she thinks it is only a “drunkards talk.” (13) Nevertheless, after many years, Divina Flor confeses that her mother did not warn Nasar, because “in the depths of her heart she wanted to kill him.” (13) Besides hate, negligence is portrayed by some of the characters; specially public and religious authorities. Colonel Lazaro Aponte, the town’s mayor, finds out Nasar is going to be killed and fails to prevent it. Aponte takes away the Vicario brother’s knifes, and sends them home to sleep. When Aponte sees Nasar safe at the docks, believes Nasar “is not in danger anymore.” (22) Aponte congratulates himself, because he thinks “he has made the right decision;” (67) he feels at “peace with his soul.” (65) However, Aponte’s attempts become insufficient, when he reacts negligently the second time he is warned of Nasar’s impeding murder. He promised to “take care of it at once,” (160); but becomes distracted, and allows the crime to be committed. Father Amador, the main religious authority in town, receives a message warning him of Nasar’s impeding murder; but he does
Throughout the novel there are witnesses who know Santiago Nasar is going to be killed, but do not attempt to impede it from happening. These witnesses have different reasons that justify their actions. One of them is hate; which is evidenced with the character of Victoria Guzman. Guzman keeps resentment towards Santiago Nasar, owing to her fling with Nasar’s father in the “fullness of her adolescence” (8) and Nasar’s intentions to “tamed” (8) her daughter (Divina Flor). Guzman finds out they are going to kill Santiago, but does not warn him because she thinks it is only a “drunkards talk.” (13) Nevertheless, after many years, Divina Flor confeses that her mother did not warn Nasar, because “in the depths of her heart she wanted to kill him.” (13) Besides hate, negligence is portrayed by some of the characters; specially public and religious authorities. Colonel Lazaro Aponte, the town’s mayor, finds out Nasar is going to be killed and fails to prevent it. Aponte takes away the Vicario brother’s knifes, and sends them home to sleep. When Aponte sees Nasar safe at the docks, believes Nasar “is not in danger anymore.” (22) Aponte congratulates himself, because he thinks “he has made the right decision;” (67) he feels at “peace with his soul.” (65) However, Aponte’s attempts become insufficient, when he reacts negligently the second time he is warned of Nasar’s impeding murder. He promised to “take care of it at once,” (160); but becomes distracted, and allows the crime to be committed. Father Amador, the main religious authority in town, receives a message warning him of Nasar’s impeding murder; but he does