Chronicle of a Death Foretold Analysis

Questions and Answers

Where did the twins tell the narrator they began looking for Santiago Nasar?

Maria Alejandrina Cervantes' place

What does the court decide about the Vicario twins' actions?

Their action was honorable in defense of their sister

What time did the twins say they were at Maria Alexandrina Cervantes' place until?

Two o'clock

What do the Vicario brothers know about their actions?

They know what they did is against the law, but they feel justified Signup and view all the answers

Where did the twins wait for Santiago after looking in Maria Alexandrina Cervantes' place?

Clothilde Armenta's milk shop Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator learn about the Vicario twins?

They had tried to find someone to stop them from killing Santiago Signup and view all the answers

What does Pablo declare he's going to do to Santiago?

Kill him Signup and view all the answers

Why does Maria Alejandra Cervantes refuse to believe that the twins came to her place looking for Santiago?

She says they wouldn't have left Signup and view all the answers

Why are the twins waiting in the milk shop for Santiago?

To kill him Signup and view all the answers

How do the twins respond to complaints in the meat market?

They say they're going to kill Santiago Signup and view all the answers

How does Clothilde's husband respond when she tells him the twins are going to kill Santiago?

He says she's being silly Signup and view all the answers

Who does Faustino Santos report the twins' claim to?

Leandro Pornoy (the policeman) Signup and view all the answers

What does the Colonel do when he finds out about the twins' plans?

He takes the knives away from the boys and tells them to go home Signup and view all the answers

What does Colonel Lazaro Aponte do after the knives are taken away?

He takes the knives away from the twins Signup and view all the answers

What do the twins do after the knives are taken away?

They go home, get two different knives, and go to have them sharpened Signup and view all the answers

Why did the twins feel they had to carry out the murder plot?

Because they felt it was their duty to do so Signup and view all the answers

Which twin makes the decision to kill Santiago? Which twin insists on following through with the plan?

Pedro makes the decision to kill Santiago, Pablo insists on following through Signup and view all the answers

What does Officer Leandro Pornoy do?

He goes to Colonel Aponte to unveil the murder being plotted Signup and view all the answers

Why does Prudencia Cote agree to marry Pablo?

Because he upheld his sister's honor by killing Santiago Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator's recounting of Colonel Lazaro Aponte reveal?

The Colonel is more interested in his own concerns than warning Santiago Signup and view all the answers

Why does Clothilde Armenta give the twins rum?

Hoping to make them so drunk they can't do anything Signup and view all the answers

How does the Colonel treat the twins?

Like children Signup and view all the answers

What did Maria do differently the night before the murder?

She wouldn't let Santiago dress up her mulatto girls as he usually did Signup and view all the answers

What does Clothilde Armenta correctly assume about the twins?

The twins don't really want to kill Santiago but feel they are duty bound Signup and view all the answers

What seems to motivate the twins' actions?

A sense of honor, not bloodthirstiness Signup and view all the answers

Where do the boys go without Santiago the night before the murder?

They all go to get breakfast Signup and view all the answers

Who does Clothilde tell about the Vicarios' plan?

Father Carmen Amador Signup and view all the answers

What word might describe how the twins feel in this situation?

Trapped Signup and view all the answers

Why does the Father forget?

Because of the Bishop's arrival Signup and view all the answers

Why does Pablo finally have to convince Pedro to kill Santiago?

Because Pedro has been to war and knows what it's like to kill a man Signup and view all the answers

What does Clothilde Armenta imply when she says, 'That day I realized just how alone we women are in the world'?

That women are often responsible for restoring order by calming the passions of men Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator suggest when he warns Santiago about a falcon chasing a warlike crane?

A man who pursues a woman, whose business is love, is destined to be heard Signup and view all the answers

Why does Maria Alejandrina Cervantes never go to bed with anyone else in Santiago's presence?

Because she wants to show respect for him Signup and view all the answers

What might Santiago Nasar's tendency to disguise the girls' identities suggest?

That he wants to make them into something they are not Signup and view all the answers

What was the serenade that took place at the widower Xius' house intended to do?

Wake the newlyweds on their wedding night Signup and view all the answers

Why does the narrator believe Santiago did not have a guilty conscience that night?

His manner was carefree and celebratory throughout the night Signup and view all the answers

What popular image is connoted by the mention of Victoria Guzman watching over the coffee pot and gutting animals?

A witch Signup and view all the answers

What does Santiago Nasar's pure white linen suit suggest?

Burial cloths Signup and view all the answers

What does the repeated foretelling of Santiago Nasar's death suggest?

It was fated or inevitable in such a town and culture Signup and view all the answers

Who does the narrator last see Santiago Nasar walking along the river with?

Cristo Bedoya Signup and view all the answers

What does the narrator suggest about the church's support in the community?

The Church does not always support the people as they should Signup and view all the answers

What is Maria Alejandrina Cervantes described as?

An insomniac leper Signup and view all the answers

Why does Victoria Guzman call Santiago Nasar 'white man'?

Because of his innocence Signup and view all the answers

What does the fact that the narrator does not remember rain on the day of the murder suggest?

He understands the matter at some level Signup and view all the answers

What does Prudencia Cotes make clear about her feelings regarding the men’s actions?

She believes the men did what was right Signup and view all the answers

What strangely contradicted the brothers' plan to murder Santiago at Clothilde Armenta's house?

Their wanting to get cleaned up and presentable (clean shaven) Signup and view all the answers

Why does Santiago Nasar insist on returning home for an hour?

So that he can sleep before the bishop comes Signup and view all the answers

How could most of the concerns that keep people from acting on Santiago Nasar's behalf be described?

Self-indulgent Signup and view all the answers

Why does Father Amador fail to warn Santiago or his mother of the murder plot?

Because he was distracted by the bishop's visit and forgets Signup and view all the answers

Why is Luis Enrique unable to tell his family what he saw at the milk shop?

Because he passed out when he got home Signup and view all the answers

How does the author differentiate between his sisters?

By calling them 'my sister Margot' and 'my sister the nun' Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vicario Twins and Santiago Nasar

The Vicario twins initially sought Santiago Nasar at Maria Alejandrina Cervantes' establishment.
They justified their actions as honorable, viewing their intent to defend their sister's honor.
They spent time until two o'clock at Maria Alejandrina's location before executing their plan.
Although aware that their actions were illegal, the twins felt morally justified.
After their initial search, they waited for Santiago at Clothilde Armenta's milk shop.

Plans and Decisions

Despite intentions to stop the action, the Vicario twins ultimately affirm their aim to kill Santiago.
Pablo Vicario openly declared the intent to kill Santiago in response to ribbing from those in the meat market.
Clothilde Armenta attempted to dissuade the twins by offering them rum, hoping to incapacitate them.

Community and Authority Reaction

The Colonel dismissed concerns about the twins, believing they were bluffing and thus confiscated their knives.
Following their weapons being taken, the twins retrieved other knives to sharpen in preparation for the murder.
Prudencia Cotes, Pablo's fiancée, stated she would only marry him after he defended his sister’s honor by killing Santiago.

Miscommunication and Fate

Clothilde informed Father Carmen Amador about the Vicarios' murderous intentions, but he failed to act promptly.
The implications of Colonel Lazaro Aponte's mundane distractions highlight a societal indifference toward the murder plot.
Santiago managed to evade warnings due to Father Amador's distraction by the arrival of a bishop.

Reflections on Honor and Gender

The twins' feelings stemmed from a sense of duty rather than violent cravings.
Clothilde's remark on women's isolation underscores the societal burdens women bear in maintaining order.
Santiago's casual attitude on the night before the murder reflects a state of unawareness and innocence.

Symbolism and Foreshadowing

Santiago's white linen suit symbolizes purity and foreshadows tragedy.
The community's collective apathy toward Santiago's fate suggests a preordained inevitability to his death.
Characters such as Victoria Guzman serve as symbolic figures, invoking themes of fate and morality.

Male Dominance and Community Dynamics

Prudencia Cotes' view of the twins' actions as justified and honorable indicates a shared belief in the precedence of male-desired actions over moral judgment.
The repeated mentions of distractions from the bishop's visit and other social engagements reflect how individual concerns overshadow communal welfare.

Additional Insights

The narrator reflects on his own detached view and inability to recall significant events, illustrating themes of memory and guilt in community actions.
The divided presence of the narrator's sisters reinforces the familial connections and influences shaping the narrative perspective.

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Description

Explore the motives and actions of the Vicario twins in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold.' This quiz delves into their justification for seeking revenge on Santiago Nasar and the community's reaction to their plans. Analyze the themes of honor and moral justification in this gripping narrative.