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cossmo 's review for:
Chronicle of a Death Foretold
by Gabriel García Márquez
I initially rated the book 4 stars, but decided to go for 5. It is not my favorite book of all times (though "Love in time of Cholera" might be), but it is well written, the story telling is brilliant and Marquez's style is obvious and enjoyable and as wonderful as ever.
I don't want to pin the same aspects every one else did, but a few different ones that were striking to me:
- Why is a death "so foretold" still happening? Because of fatality. From the very hearing of the rumor of what might happen, everyone took it for granted, accepted as it has already happened and did nothing to stop it as in their minds it was done and had to be dealt with. Isn't it amazing how human nature resides in front of destiny and lets it takes it's course?
- The major question remains unanswered: Is Santiago guilty? Since the whole community seemed to agree he deserved what was coming, did they stop to ask if he actually deserved what he got? Well, isn't this theme so actual, and so brilliant and it shows exactly how Media works even these days? It is enough to create a believable assumption and the truth will be buried for those who will follow only their first impression or instinct.
- Another major unanswered question: why did Angela pick Santiago? Isn't this the whole point of author's investigation? And why doesn't she show any regret? Even if she was right - a man was dead and her brothers were to blame. Has the beating she took exorcise all regrets out of her? And isn't it interesting that she was actually the first one to reside in front of fate - she did nothing to hide the lack of innocence in front of her groom and she was actually "ready to die" that night. Even more interesting is that from that moment on, she lived her life as a virgin waiting for the groom to come back. Would you ever believe he would? Right! That why the amazing end.
- How can "dignity" absolve the men of the most horrible crimes? It is not right what is right, but it is right what everyone thinks it is. And here we are in the situation where the victim is seen as the aggressor, the criminals as casualties and the unforgiving groom as the victim. And this is it.
I don't want to add more about how fiction and reality mingle, the type of details Marquez uses for descriptions and the ways he tells the story - as they are all obvious and what we love about his work and make his unique style. I do want to add that I find this to be tragic-comic mirror set in front of us as communities, as humanity up to this day. Do you accept it?
I don't want to pin the same aspects every one else did, but a few different ones that were striking to me:
- Why is a death "so foretold" still happening? Because of fatality. From the very hearing of the rumor of what might happen, everyone took it for granted, accepted as it has already happened and did nothing to stop it as in their minds it was done and had to be dealt with. Isn't it amazing how human nature resides in front of destiny and lets it takes it's course?
- The major question remains unanswered: Is Santiago guilty? Since the whole community seemed to agree he deserved what was coming, did they stop to ask if he actually deserved what he got? Well, isn't this theme so actual, and so brilliant and it shows exactly how Media works even these days? It is enough to create a believable assumption and the truth will be buried for those who will follow only their first impression or instinct.
- Another major unanswered question: why did Angela pick Santiago? Isn't this the whole point of author's investigation? And why doesn't she show any regret? Even if she was right - a man was dead and her brothers were to blame. Has the beating she took exorcise all regrets out of her? And isn't it interesting that she was actually the first one to reside in front of fate - she did nothing to hide the lack of innocence in front of her groom and she was actually "ready to die" that night. Even more interesting is that from that moment on, she lived her life as a virgin waiting for the groom to come back. Would you ever believe he would? Right! That why the amazing end.
- How can "dignity" absolve the men of the most horrible crimes? It is not right what is right, but it is right what everyone thinks it is. And here we are in the situation where the victim is seen as the aggressor, the criminals as casualties and the unforgiving groom as the victim. And this is it.
I don't want to add more about how fiction and reality mingle, the type of details Marquez uses for descriptions and the ways he tells the story - as they are all obvious and what we love about his work and make his unique style. I do want to add that I find this to be tragic-comic mirror set in front of us as communities, as humanity up to this day. Do you accept it?