Examples Of Machismo In Chronicle Of A Death Foretold

Kaley Hottle
Ms. Lightner
IB English 11 HL
February 27, 2023
“‘Chronicle of a Death Foretold’ Analysis Essay” Throughout the entire novella, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, there is a high prevalence of evidence that the Colombian townspeople were heavily affected by the methodology of machismo. Marquez utilizes multiple literary techniques to provide an appropriate and fact-based exploration of characterization to show these effects on the main people involved in the town. Such influence spiraled, and continued to spread an unhealthy environment that pushed strict pressures and confines based on these gender stereotypes. The magical realist novella, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Carcia Marquez exhibits the disastrous effects of

This is seen in an earlier part of the story when the Narrator mentions that Santiago Nasar’s father, Ibraham Nasar, had passed away and explained that “[the] death of his father had forced him to abandon his studies at the end of secondary school in order to take charge of the family ranch” (Márquez 8). This quote alludes more so to the facet of machismo that defines a man to become the ‘sole-provider’ of the house -- no matter what -- just as Santigo had done in the place of his father after his passing. This, as well as Santiago’s attitude of entitlement to Victoria Guzman’s daughter, Divina Flor, just as Ibraham had been toward Victoria herself. Marriage was not a confinement against the relationship between either of the Nasar’s and their defiant personal cooks. It wasn’t opposed either, instead, the affair was rewarded with pride by other

More specifically, the Vicario twins who felt compelled to conform and enact violence in order to heal their sister’s sins: throwing away their lives to a greeted innocence to their god and society. Machismo is based parallel to the generational culture the twins and everyone in the town experienced in the 50’s when the story had taken place. In correlation to this influence, Marianismo, pushes the ‘ideal female’ or expression of femininity. In other words, this perspective was one enacted to be subjected to machismo. For example, when Anegala’s mother, Purisma del Carmen, -- someone both family and culture oriented -- was being described by the townspeople about her younger life when she was searching for her then-husband, the narrator’s wife was quoted to say, “She devoted herself with such spirit of sacrifice to the care of her husband and the rearing of her children that at times one forgot she still existed” (Marquez 31). This summarizes in one sentence alone what marianismo is and the entitlement of machismo men; as seen in all the marriages and affairs displayed in the novella at multiple points in