Chronicle of a Death Foretold

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Chronicle of a Death Foretold Chronicle of a Death Foretold (original Spanish title: Crónica de una muerte anunciada) is a novella by Gabriel García Márquez , published in 1981. It tells, in the form of a pseudo- journalistic reconstruction, the story of the murder of Santiago Nasar by the two Vicario brothers. Analysis One of the unanswered questions in this book is who actually took Angela Vicario's virginity, for the narrator is unsure why she named Santiago Nasar as the one who committed the crime, although it is suggested by gossip that she did it to protect the man whom she loved. The crime against Santiago would not only be done to him by the Vicario brothers, but also by all those in his community. The fact that not one individual took it upon themselves to stop the crime shows that even in a community that revels in the coming of their bishop, there can still be wrongdoing. It's also possible to read the book as a Kafkaesque love and crime story: the beginning of the book is itself a variation of the start of The Trial and The Metamorphosis , both by Franz Kafka . García Márquez himself acknowledges this influence, saying that it was the reading of The Metamorphosis that showed him "that it was possible to write in a different way. Magical realism Chronicle of a Death Foretold exhibits many of the aspects of a novel written in the magic realist style. For example, the novel makes oblique references to God and clairvoyance. Additionally, it has the magic realism aspect of a warped timeline. The main plot plays out five times--once in each of the five chapters--and each time information is given from a different individual in the community. This allows for the storyline to portray the idea of fragmentation, thus bringing in this idea of reality and fantasy. While this is reminiscent of the traditional tragic format, it 1

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Transcript of Chronicle of a Death Foretold

Chronicle of a Death ForetoldChronicle of a Death Foretold (original Spanish title: Crnica de una muerte anunciada) is a novella by Gabriel Garca Mrquez, published in 191! "t tells, in the #or$ o# a pseudo%&ournalistic reconstruction, the story o# the $urder o# Santiago 'asar by the t(o )icario brothers!Analysis*ne o# the unans(ered questions in this boo+ is (ho actually too+ ,ngela )icario-s virginity, #or the narrator is unsure (hy she na$ed Santiago 'asar as the one (ho co$$itted the cri$e, although it is suggested by gossip that she did it to protect the $an (ho$ she loved! .he cri$e against Santiago (ould notonly be done to hi$ by the )icario brothers, but also by all those in his co$$unity! .he #act that not one individual too+ it upon the$selves to stop the cri$e sho(s that even in a co$$unity that revels in the co$ing o# their bishop, there can still be (rongdoing! "t-s also possible to read the boo+ as a /a#+aesque love and cri$e story: the beginning o# the boo+ is itsel# a variation o# the start o# The Trial and The Metamorphosis, both by 0ranz /a#+a! Garca Mrquez hi$sel# ac+no(ledges this in#luence, saying that it (as the reading o# The Metamorphosis that sho(ed hi$ 1that it (as possible to (rite in a di##erent (ay!Magical realismChronicle of a Death Foretold e2hibits $any o# the aspects o# a novel (ritten in the $agic realist style! 0or e2a$ple, the novel $a+es oblique re#erences to Godand clairvoyance! ,dditionally, it has the $agic realis$ aspect o# a (arped ti$eline! .he $ain plot plays out #ive ti$es%%once in each o# the #ive chapters%%and each ti$e in#or$ation is given #ro$ a di##erent individual in the co$$unity! .his allo(s #or the storyline to portray the idea o# #rag$entation, thus bringing inthis idea o# reality and #antasy! 3hile this is re$iniscent o# the traditional tragic #or$at, it turns it inside out! .he narrator-s inclusion o# personal &udg$ents, as (ell as the events occurring $any years a#ter the dra$a un#olds, see$s to breach the de#inition o# a chronicle! .he +aleidoscopic i$agery #ound in the novel adds to this i$pression and, co$bined (ith the contorted chronological structure and the to(nspeople-s anticipation o# Santiago 'asar-s $urder, erodesthe plausibility o# $ere irresponsibility as an e2planation #or the tragedy! .his incongruity #its (ith the $agic realis$ style4 it $ay be put do(n to #ate! .he opposite o# unli+ely po(erlessness, unli+ely endurance, is also present as Santiago 'asar-s stench per$eates the to(n even a#ter he dies! .he subtle intersection o# hu$an values and the supernatural (ith the physical (orld is a hall$ar+ o# $agical realis$!1Adaptations"t (as translated into 5nglish by Gregory 6abassa and by 5dith Gross$an! .heboo+ (as adapted #or the big screen in the Spanish language #il$: Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1978, an "talian%0rench%9olo$bian co%production, directed by 0rancesco 6osi, starring *rnella Muti, 6upert 5verett and ,nthony :elon! "n 199;, Graciela :aniele adapted it into the .ony ,(ard%no$inated o#>a>:eath>0oretold 1%?%1@A Chronicle of a Death Foretold Major Character Descriptions and Quotes Santiago 'asar: , see$ingly innocent young $an (ho is na$ed the perpetrator in the loss o# ,ngela )icario-s virginity! But Argenida Lanao, the oldest daughter, said that Santiago Nasar waled with his usual good!earing, measuring his steps well, and that his Saracen face with its dashing ringlets was handsomer than e"er# As he passed the ta!le he smiled at them and continued through the !edrooms to the rear door of the house# 'arrator: ,n unna$ed $an (ith the curiosity to continue gathering #acts about the $urder o# Santiago $any years later! $ tried to get the truth out of %Angela& m'self when $ "isited her the second time, with all m' arguments in order, !ut she !arel' lifted her e'es from the em!roider' to noc them down# (Don)t !eat it to death, cousin,( she told me# (*e was the one#(