All people live in the society and they are to subject to the rules of this society. Living in the modern world, many Europeans and Americans are unable to understand how other nations, especially those who live in the Far and the Middle East.
At the same time, looking at the social changes and the rules how Americans and Europeans live, the representatives of the East are unable to understand how it is possible to lead such lives. Therefore, the rules, norms and situations which occur in the life of one particular society form their ideas and the norms of their behavior.
Additionally, one should understand that those who live in one particular society are to follow those rules and in case of the rules violation or the ignorance of those the revenge is going to come.
Reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ Chronicle of a Death Foretold, it is possible to say that the role of the society was huge there as the death of Santiago Nasar is explained by the desire of the community to punish the one who has violated the rules of the community which have been existing for many years.
To begin with, it should be stated that the main idea of the title is to show that the social point of view and the rules which exist in the society are known for all and that in case one violates those rules – the revenge is going to follow. Thus, the symbolic meaning of the title is that everyone knew that the crime is going to follow as the specific rules and norms of the social behavior were violated and a person had to be punished.
Being accused in taking Angela Vicario’s virginity, the whole society was aware of the fact that that her brothers are going to take a revenge for her. Of course, reading the novel it is possible to take a number of signs which may show that Santiago Nasar did not do anything wrong and Angela Vicario pointed at him just with the purpose to protect her lover, however, it does not change the main idea of the title.
The society was aware of the crime and they knew that this crime would not be left without attention. The whole society know that the criminal is going to be killed, therefore, they know about the murder but did nothing. Why they did nothing? As they knew that the social norms were crucially violated. That was all.
Therefore, it is possible to say that the title reflects the idea that those who violate the norms prescribed in the society are to get the punishment and the whole society is going to be aware of the punishment and will do nothing even though the punishment is going to be cruel as it is the social norm.
Considering the place of the society in the novel under consideration, it is important to highlight several quotes and to make sure that these quotes correspond to the theme of the discussion. “
The brothers were brought up to be men. The girls were brought up to be married. They knew how to do screen embroidery, sew by machine, weave bone lace, wash and iron, make artificial flowers and fancy candy, and write engagement announcements… my mother thought there were no better-reared daughters.
‘They are perfect,’ she was frequently heard to say. ‘Any man will be happy with them because they have been raised to suffer” (33).
The main idea of this piece of writing is to show that women are raised with a special idea – to become the wives for their husbands. This sacred union is to be praised. The quote expresses the severe attitude to women, the severe culture in the community they had to live in.
The inability to get the desired jobs and the obligation to devote the whole women’s lives to family may be frustration to somebody. The marriage was not always based on love and women had to subject to the desire or the interests of the family. Therefore, the community lives with the idea that women may be unhappy in their marriage, that women do not have the right of choice and other privileges which are usually given to men.
However, this very severe culture protected women and made those covered under the strong and powerful legislation. Therefore, the murder of the criminal was considered in the society as something tribute. No one even thought about the prevention of the crime or even if the ideas were, they were not realized appropriately.
‘The truth is I didn’t know what to do,’ he told me. ‘My first thought was that it wasn’t any business of mine but something for the civil authorities, but then I made up my mind to say something in passing to Placida Linero.’ Yet when he crossed the square, he’d forgotten completely. ‘You have to understand,’ he told me, “that the bishop was coming that day’ (Márquez 70).
This quote is about Father Amador, he is the speaker. It becomes obvious that being one of the most powerful people in the society he failed to do anything. It is difficult to define whether his attempts were hard and whether he really wanted to do it. A number of other authorities, such as bishop and police, were also unable to do anything.
However, the rhetoric question arises, whether these people wanted to prevent the crime or not. The awareness of the crime is the half of the success. Just a little attempt could save a person. However, the authorities of the city failed to do anything.
Therefore, it may be concluded that the social rules and norms are believed to be crucial for many particular communities and the violation of those leads to the reaction of the society, accordingly. The lack of desire of the officials and other representatives of the community underlines this idea. Moreover, it is crucial to remember that the social opinion is important.
The rules and norms the society lives in accordance to are usually created on the basis of the social opinion. Being created in a particular from, Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ Chronicle of a Death Foretold has gained the popularity and the interest of critics in the whole world.
Raising a lot of other themes and problems the idea of social identity and the community remains the central which is to be developed on the background of other issues, such as love, devotion, truth, etc. Having a desire to show how strong the social opinion is, the author managed to cope with the task successfully.
Works Cited
Márquez, Gabriel GarcĂa. Chronicle of a death foretold: a novel. New York: Vintage International, 2003. Print.