Examples Of Machismo In Chronicle Of A Death Foretold

In Columbia, machismo is an important cultural aspect, but it limits women from making their own decisions and determining their future. Machismo is society's expectation for men to be powerful, demanding, and aggressive. Chronicle of a Death Foretold takes place in Columbia, twenty-seven years after Santiago Nasar was murdered for taking Angela Vicario's virginity. Santiago is portrayed as the victim, but the real victim of the story is Angela Vicario. Angela is oppressed from the time she is born until Bayardo San Román returns her to her family on their wedding night. In Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the author illustrates a Machismo culture where women are silenced and powerless, in order to demonstrate the

Their whole lives women are told they should submit to and follow men's orders. Everyone in their society sees the women's submissive behavior and the men's oppressive behavior as normal and respectable because machismo is all they know. Machismo and the double-standard are the cause of females only being taught household chores and how to act as a good wife to a man, who has been taught to act forceful towards and take advantage of them. Because of machismo, women are taught at an early age and, therefore, automatically expected to agree with and follow men's orders. Society has automatic expectations for men, as well, but theirs are about proving their masculinity, not giving up their desires and

Angela is forced to marry Bayardo San Román even though she does not love, or even know, him. Bayardo is sleeping on a bench when he first sees Angela and immediately claims her. Bayardo says, "'When I wake up, remind me that I'm going to marry her" (Marquez 29). At this very moment, Angela's future is determined for her, and she does not even know, let alone have any control over the situation. Angela's parents do not see anything wrong with this, in fact, her mother says, "Love can be learned too" (Marquez 35). when Angela explains her lack of love for Bayardo. A man she does not even know decided her entire future for her, and society considers it normal and correct. In Columbia, a woman is expected to marry a man because he wants to marry her, whether she loves him or not, she is required to follow his orders and respect him. When the man decides he wants to marry the woman, she no longer has a voice in society or her own opinions. Once the woman is married, she is held to an even stricter double-standard and forced to abide by all of the man's rules, respect everything he does, and agree with all of his opinions. Women are expected to stay home and take care of the family, but men are expected to go out and show off their masculinity. Women are also expected to act responsibly and stay loyal to their husband, while men are expected to do and take whatever they want from whoever they