Santiago Nasar Loss Of Innocence

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Santiago Nasar is dead because of a crime he committed, yet his guilt is not certain. He is accused of dishonoring Angela Vicario because he supposedly took her virginity and the townspeople find him deserving of punishment. Throughout the novel, Santiago’s guilt is left ambiguous with no definitive answer from him, Angela, or others involved as details of his role in the crime are unclear. Angela’s brothers, Pedro and Pablo, viciously murder Santiago in an attempt to restore their sister’s honor as the town does little to intervene. The brothers openly admit to the crime and inform others about their plan prior to the murder, yet the townspeople as a whole do nothing to protect Santiago as they assume that he is indeed guilty of dishonoring …show more content…

Initially, Pablo and Pedro brothers murder Santiago because he dishonored their sister, Angela Vicario. When asked why they killed Santiago by Father Amador, Pablo says that ‘“it was a matter of honor’” (49). The motives of the brothers are clear, as the honor above all motif establishes why they killed Santiago, but it is unsure why the town allows this crime to happen. Moreover, Santiago, by taking Angela’s virginity and dishonoring her, has transgressed against the town. This transgression is clear when Pedro states that ‘“Santiago Nasar knows why,’” implying that Santiago is aware of his crime of disgracing Angela and is aware that he will be punished for his actions (53). With this, it is clear that honor is held in such high regards that the town assumes his guilt and punishes Santiago for his “crime.” The actions of the town following this assumption convey the repugnant extremes the town will go to in its attempt to restore honor. Furthermore, it is the town’s high esteem towards honor that allows for the brothers to murder Santiago without punishment. After all, the town proclaims that “affairs of honor are sacred monopolies,” implying that they stand above all else (97). The importance of honor, established by the honor motif, enables the brothers to kill Santiago, as the town justify their actions under the guise of “honor” and characterizes itself as complicit in the