Cultural Rules in Chronicle of a Death Foretold

They dictate our actions and our lives. In the postmodern novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Chronicle of a Death Foretold the cultural rules and values of machismo, honor, and chastity significantly impact many of the characters and events in the novel. To begin with, in the novel Chronicle of a Death Foretold the cultural rule of machismo significantly impacts the actions of many of the characters and the events in the novel. Characters that live by the cultural rule of machismo include the Vicario brothers, Bayardo San Roman, and Santiago Nasar.

For example, the Vicario Brothers, Pedro and Pablo, carry out the murder of Santiago Nasar because they must always appear manly, or macho, in a society that values machismo. Machismo is a gender role that the men must abide by. Neglecting this duty of theirs would have made each of the brothers seem like less of a man.

Bayardo San Roman demonstrated machismo by his arrogant actions. He shows exgarreated dominance by throwing his money around and doing as he wishes.

He purchases lavish clothes and even arrogantly chooses his wife before they even meet. Bayardo’s display of machismo, when he selects Angela Vicario to be his wife, causes most of the central action of the novel, the killing of Santiago by the Vicario brothers. Bayardo’s failed unconsummated marriage with Angela causes the Vicario brothers to seek revenge against Santiago, Angela’s perpetrator. As another example, Santiago Nasar displays machismo when he purses Divina Flor and visits Maria A.

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Cervantes.

He openly pursues Divina Flor even though he has a fiancée, Flora Miguel. Machismo comes with its perks for the men but also presents a double standard for the women. The cultural rule of machismo greatly impacts many of the characters and events in the novel, as shown by how the men’s efforts to show machismo either directly causes the murder of Santiago Nasar or creates a society with a double standard that would accept this type of murder. It is evident that the cultural rule of machismo is a very crucial cultural element, which helps to spur the novel forward. To prove that machismo affects the course of actions in the novel, Pablo’s fiancé, Prudencia Cotes, says, “i never would have married him if he hadn’t done what a man should do.” This confession supports the fact that it was the Vicario brother‘s duty to kill Santiago Nasar because he had deflowered their sister. This quote also shows machismo’s affect on the characters and the events in the novel.

Also, the cultural rule of honor significantly impacts many of the characters and events in the novel. The cultural rule of honor most significantly impacts, the Vicario brothers, Pedro and Pablo. Angela Vicario accuses Santiago of being the man who deflowered her. The Vicario family has lost its honor, and now the brothers must return it by killing Santiago Nasar. Honor dictates and impacts the actions of the Vicario brothers. They do not want to kill Santiago and they do not take pleasure in the act of killing him, but they know that in order to gain back the family’s honor, they must do what is necessary. They must kill Santiago or at least attempt to kill him. Another character and event that is impacted by the cultural rule of honor is Bayardo San Roman. Bayardo returns Angela Vicario because keeping her as a wife would ultimately bring dishonor to him and to their family.

Honor compels Bayardo to return Angela Vicario. Angela’s mom says, “Honor is love.” This quote supports the fact that honor dictates and impacts the characters and events of the novel. This quote also hints at the theme that honor acts as a stronger motivator that friendship. The Vicario brothers and Santiago were good drinking buddies shortly before the murder, but as we now know, honor is a stronger motivator than friendship. Futhermore, the cultural rule of chastity greatly impacts the characters and the events in the novel, Chronicle of a Death Foretold as shown by Angela Vicario, Santiago Nasar, and Divina Flor. In this society, women are supposed to be virginal upon marriage. It just so happens that this was not the case for Angela, Since Angela was not chaste, Bayardo San Roman returned her. Bayardo’s returning of Angela causes the entire central action of the novel. However, the cultural rule of chastity applies to women and does not apply to men. Along with machismo, the rule of chastity presents another double standard for this society. Bayardo returns Angela for not being a virgin, whereas Santiago can openly pursue women while he is engaged to Flora Miguel.

The women suffer heavy consequences for not remaining chaste, but the men do not. The cultural rule of chastity creates a double standard, and it creates the atmosphere for a town that would accept such things as honor killings and the returning of a wife. As Santiago tries to pursue Divina Flor, her mother Victoria Guzman says, “Let go of her white man.” Victoria Guzman does not want Santiago pursing her daughter because she wants her daughter to remain chaste until marriage. Victoria Guzman is trying to abide by this cultural rule. The cultural rule 0 chastity for women significantly impacts the characters and the events in the novel. In conclusion, it is evident that machismo, honor, and chastity greatly impacts the characters and influences the actions in the novel. The cultural rules of this society suggest that universally, honor acts as a stronger motivator than friendship and that a double standard exists in the lives of men and women in different cultures.