The novel “Cronica de una muerte anunciada” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez explores how societal expectations can have detrimental effects on individuals and lead to irreversible harm. Set in a nameless river-port town in coastal Colombia, the story is recounted by an anonymous narrator who reconstructs the events that culminate in the murder of the protagonist, Santiago Nasar.
However, despite the novel’s title, the story does not follow a linear plot, leaving readers uncertain about whether Santiago Nasar deserved his brutal murder. Gabriel Garcia Marquez emphasizes that the murder was influenced by various societal factors, particularly the pressure placed on individuals. Yet, societal expectations do not always benefit individuals and can cause irreparable harm.
The main conflict of the novel revolves around Angela Vicario’s disgrace as a bride when her husband, Bayaro San Roman, realizes she is not a virgin. Consequently, Angela identifies Santiago Nasar as the person responsible for her loss of virginity, leading her brothers, Pablo and Pedro Vicario, to seek revenge and restore the family’s honor. These events highlight significant aspects of Hispanic society known as Marianismo and Machismo, where women are expected to embody the pure image of the Virgin Mary.
The gender-bias in Hispanic societies gives rise to the expectation that men should only behave as men. However, Angela Vicario defied societal norms which resulted in severe consequences. Her actions brought shame upon her bridegroom, her entire family, and led to her being physically beaten with such anger that she believed she would be killed. Additionally, she indirectly caused the murder of Santiago Nasar, a man whose guilt was never proven. The narrator even remarked that Santiago was too self-absorbed to have noticed Angela and referred to her as “la boba.” The Vicario brothers also fell victim to societal expectations.
According to Prudencia Cotes, who is engaged to Pablo Vicario, she said “Nunca me hubiera casado con el si no cumplia como hombre.” However, these societal expectations did not bring any benefits to anyone involved. Despite the successful murder, Angela still faced disgrace as a bride, and her brothers were imprisoned for years. The rest of the family had to migrate, and the scandal continued to haunt the town for a long time. Moreover, a potentially innocent man lost his life due to the notion of honor. Ultimately, this demonstrates that what society requires may not always be advantageous for the individual. Done by: Karina Heerasingh
