Was Santiago Innocent?

During the discussion, several new pieces of information were presented. In this presentation we learned much about Colombian culture in the 1950s. Looking at Latin America at the time we see that violence was at a high with the fact that organized gangs were being established. Because of this we can see how the society in the book so easily accepted the slaughter of Santiago. Also in Colombia we see that they have a strong religions background in the Catholic church. In all religions we see routines, which is why it is also easy for the people of the novel to follow the routines and orders brought on from higher officials.

Marriages are still considered business contracts in the Latin American culture. A contract where both bride and groom’s family either earn profits or gain respect in society. In the eyes of society and family, a woman is valuable as long as she is a virgin. Latin American daughters are raised to good housewives whose main duties include taking care of the family and the children, and women who go against these traditions or rules pay a heavy price. In Gabriel García Márquez’s novella, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, the character development of Angela Vicario demonstrates that she is guilty for Santiago Nasar’s death; however, the different aspects of the hispanic culture also share the

The third and fourth obstacle Santiago faces is his fear of defeat and realizing his dream. For example, “They made him continue digging, but he found nothing. As the sun rose, the men began to beat the boy. He was bruised and bleeding, his clothes torn to shreds, and he felt death was near.” The obstacle he defeated was the fear of defeat people will meet on the journey to fulfilling our destiny. People have to be patient in difficult times and know that the universe is conspiring in our favor, even if some do not know. Santiago had patience and allowed the men to beat him. Because of his patience they eventually left him alone

When Santiago encountered the thieves, he told them the truth, and they didn’t believe him, which saved his life. This quote from earlier in the book was mentioned, about how people become more skeptical when they are older:

The reader will also discern the scores of parallels able to be drawn between Santiago and Jesus Christ, making Santiago a literary ‘Christ-figure’. Both were somewhat outcast, in Santiago’s case because he was not a native Columbian. This makes it easier for the town to allow Santiago’s death, and make him the scapegoat. The town’s unwillingness to save Santiago is similar to the Jews choosing to have Jesus killed rather than a murderer. In both cases, those who had the chance to save the innocent man felt terrible afterwards. Jesus had foretold his own death, and although Santiago was blissfully unaware of his demise until it befell him, the narrator states ‘never was there a death more foretold.’ In dying for the sake of Angela Vicario’s honour, Santiago is sacrificed for the sins of others, which was also Jesus’ purpose in dying. In addition, the seven fatal wounds Santiago suffers probably represent the Seven Deadly sins.

Angela takes “only the time necessary to say the name” (47) and arguably Santiago has been chosen simply by random fate; any male’s name would suffice, suggesting in a patriarchal society valuing a women strictly for virginity, all males share the blame. Angela’s appearance versus her reality is complex because while she has undeniably corrupt qualities, an admirable goodness shines through; the narrator acknowledges

                Pedro and Pablo Vicario, being the ones who held the knives that murdered him, are the direct cause of Santiago

First, Marquez uses powerful imagery and contrast in the recount of Divina’s sexual assault to display another side of Santiago Nasar. Marquez hints that Santiago is a good man because he is close to his religion by visiting the bishop in white. However, Divina recalls that on the morning of his death, when she was assaulted, all she felt was “the awful urge to cry.” This implies that he had assaulted her so many times before that she was no longer surprised by his actions. Therefore, there is contrast contextually because Santiago Nasar assaulted Divina Flor, who was a child at the time, while leaving to meet the bishop. A good man in this society would go visit the bishop, but a good man would not assault a child. If this is true, it could be argued that Santiago may have been innocent, or guilty? Did he or did he not deserve to die is the question that readers ask because Marquez uses this imagery and contrast. In a sense, you could argue he is guilty, but he could be innocent of what he was punished for. Chronicle of a Death Foretold uses contrast contextually to make it known that Santiago Nasar had the capability of taking way Angela’s virginity so, therefore, he was not innocent unlike previously said in the story by recalling from other people memories and his actions.

Sometimes people have to do sacrifices, which appears in the rising action of the book. “‘Fish,’ he said, ‘I love you and respect you very much. But I will kill you dead before the day ends’” (Hemingway 54). Why did he have to kill it? Why couldn’t he hold on a little longer? Santiago sacrifices the fish for his self interest. In spite of the fact that he respects the fish, the old man’s determination reflects his belief that his purpose in life is to be a fisherman, and that comes first. As well, Santiago advises himself that he doesn't have Manolin, his beloved companion, with him and must battle against the fish by himself. It has been four struggling days of being pulled by the huge marlin, Santiago decided that that was enough. Even though

Throughout Santiago’s journey, he had several setbacks. As Santiago begins his journey to his treasure, he enters the continent of Africa and stops at a bar. Santiago then meets a man he thinks he can trust. After entrusting the entrusting the man with his money, Santiago gets robbed and never sees the man or his money again. After that experience, Santiago learns it is difficult to trust people. This was a the first of a few major setbacks for him. In Africa with no money, Santiago has to find a job. I think of that as a set back, it took Santiago an extra year to get to his treasure. Santiago worked for one year and when he gained enough money to continue his journey towards his treasure he moves on. Not too long after Santiago’s first

From the outset, García Márquez already establishes the themes of religion and violence with mentions of the bishop’s arrival and images of rifles chaotically bouncing against the walls, suggesting that these themes will play a key role in the novella’s development. The opening line is intentionally vague and non-descriptive, building suspense and encouraging the reader to take part in the speculation, wondering who will kill Santiago. This immediately makes the reader play an active role in the investigation and unwittingly participate in the murder about to unfold as they gain increasing knowledge of future events, just like the rest of the community. For this reason, the true nature of a community is already being explored as we see how easy it is to become implicit in the crimes of others without being truly conscious of what you are

In the Columbian society portrayed in the novel Chronicles of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Marquez, there is a significant double standard regarding gender. They live in a world where women have to follow extreme societal and cultural expectations. Men are encouraged to be experienced in the bedroom for their wedding night but if a woman is not a virgin, she is deemed unfit to marry. Women are taught when they are brought up that “love can be learned” (page 35) and that they must marry whoever impresses their family while men can choose whoever they want. When she doesn’t obey to the image of a “perfect women” Santiago Nasar is killed in the name of her honor. The result of these double standards leads directly to the death of Santiago Nasar in Chronicles of a Death Foretold. The idea that for women, love is something that can be taught and they are “brought up to suffer” while men can choose whoever they would like especially if they charm their family, is a significant unjust double standard that results in the death of Santiago Nasar. Santiago was murdered for supposedly taking Angela’s virginity. This was cause for his death because not being a virgin deemed you unfit to be married and soiled or impure, she was garbage if she wasn’t a virgin.

The sentence that I renaissance with “… I broke them like that [snaps fingers], and that was good, because they didn’t suffer very much and neither did I”, because I often found a solution similar to the author’s decision to problem that I believed I cannot solve. Ari decided to ignore the guilt, so he would not felt bad to treat the monkey like an object, even though he knew he was wrong. Sometimes I used that method as a way to get out the endless loops of guilt. First I felt guilty for something that I did, then I got mad why I could not get the result that I want, so I then will do things that I will feel guilty. I believed the author was also suffering from this cycle of guilt in the story to

Following the concept of magic realism, is the strong sense of honor in the novel. First and foremost, the Vicario brothers killed Santiago to the restore their sister’s honor. The brothers were then found innocent for the crime of murder because the two killed Santiago to restore their sister’s honor. Honor is incorporated throughout the entire novel in every character. “I knew what they were up to, and I didn’t only agree, I never would have married him if he hadn’t done what a man should do” (62). This was said by Prudencia Cotes, at this time she was the fiancé of Pablo. Although this woman is his fiancé, and clearly loves him she couldn’t marry a man who didn’t reclaim the honor of a relative. In the culture of the Vicario brother’s defending their family honor is not an option but a necessity of a man. This concept of necessity will be explored later on. Also the town accepted this murder of Santiago Nasar. When the peoples of the town learned of the situation that was happening. They avoided Santiago

“Everything about him was old except his eyes and they were the same color as the sea and were cheerful and undefeated”Hemingway develops Santiago as a hero in order to show how fragile things can be strong in the inside.Even Though santiago seemed like a weak old man, while he was alone at sea trying to catch a fish;he demonstrates how strong,positive,and undefeated he is.