The Inevitability Of Fate In Chronicle Of A Death Foretold

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Fate and predetermination are intertwined universal themes which have raised various controversies throughout human history. Sooner or later, one comes to deal with the intricacies of his or her destiny- whether the future is in the hands of the mortal or in that of a more powerful, invincible being. A Chronicle of a Death Foretold incorporates a sketch of a mundane society where the author, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, masterfully bridges everyday life to the more profound concept of fatality. He uses symbols and elements of magical realism to evoke deeper meaning behind fantastical scenarios. In A Chronicle of a Death Foretold, the inevitability of fate is best conveyed through the silence of the village, and the occurrence of strange coincidences …show more content…

Marquez begins “on the day they were going to kill him….he [dreams] he [is] going through a grove of timber trees, where a gentle drizzle [is] falling, and for an instant he [is] happy, but when he [wakes] he [feels] completely spattered with bird shit” (Marquez 3). From the start of the novel, a sense of ambiguity and foreshadowing is established. However, the tragedy of Santiago seems to be set even before the aforementioned, as the title of the novel reveals a “death foretold.” Marquez also plays on the readers by implying that the town somewhat accepts the events as unpreventable. After Angela Vicario names Santiago as her “perpetrator,” the Vicario brothers spend the morning announcing their intention to kill Santiago in public. Burdened by societal pressure to regain family honor, they are expected to perform the slaughter as a form of sacrifice for Angela’s deflowering. Yet, due to their virtuous reputation, many assume their words as “drunkard’s baloney.” Others still choose to stay silent because of personal grudges, jealously of Santiago’s wealth and discrimination against his Arab descent. In addition, it is also due to the village’s harsh cultural norms that they believe Santiago’s death as inevitable. Perhaps, this way, his death appears justifiable and hence, they do not believe that it is their inaction which instigates …show more content…

The fine lines between fate and destiny are marginal, yet significant. While the former evolves around the predetermined course of life that occurs despite one’s actions, the latter offers a more optimistic perspective where one takes an active course in shaping a set of fixed events. In A Chronicle of a Death Foretold, unfortunately, it is fate that fashions the behavior and routines of the characters on that ill-fated

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