By the end of Marquez' Chronicle of a Death Foretold, we realize everyone knew about the murder plot of Santiago Nasar and did nothing to stop it. During the murder, no one lifted a finger to stop it or help out Santiago. Why? What does it say about the town, the people in it and Santiago himself that no one stopped his brutal murder? What commentary about society in general was Marquez trying to make?
Tori Miller
ReplyDeleteThere are different reasons why the people in the town did not attempt to warn him. Some of the people probably believed that because it was such a big gossip topic, other people already told him about it - so it was no need for them to tell him. Another probability is that some people wanted it to happen out of spite or curiosity. Victoria, the servant, definitely wanted his murder to happen because she did not want him to begin sexually abusing her daughter. And the curiosity aspect can relate to our society. An example of this is the videotaping of fights during school or even just standing there watching the fights without trying to break them up or go tell a teacher. Marquez may have been trying to tell us that society is too individualistic and quiet. Only doing things that are best for the individual out of pleasure, convenience, etc. A Lot of times we tend to put our agenda ahead of others' needs when it should be vice versa in a lot of situations.
McKenzie Johnson
ReplyDeleteWhile it is know that no one helps Santiago out in the hours before his death to forewarn him about the twin's plan it is not known as to why no one notifies him of it. It could be contributed to many things such as the bystander effect (when you think someone else has already done something so you don't have to), the fear of the Vicario brothers, and the sick thought that even though today this would be seen as unwillingly unlawful it is but another fact of honor in the story. Inside the people they may have thought that if they were in the same situation that they would have acted similar to the way the Vicario brothers did so in a way they silently support them. It even hints that if Santiago did not beg for mercy from the brothers that he might know what he was being slain for and even himself thought of the crime as worthy to kill someone for the sake of their families honor. Marquez was trying to comment on society by showing how we are oblivious to the consequences we may face when committing a crime or act but when faced with the reality of that consequence we see ourselves of agreeing and coming to terms with the punishment we are deemed worthy of.
Brianna parlette
ReplyDeleteThe whole town knew about the murder and they all had their excuses such as they didn't believe them or they thought it wa drunk talk. Nobody thinks the twins would actually do it. Some people tried to sve him by inviting him to their house but other than that nobody else helped or stopped them. They are just as innocent by not telling anyone. Maybe Marquez was tryin to say that the society is cold and you can never trust it. Society is selfish. Hey obviously had other things more important. Like the bishop or the wedding.
Shonique Edwards
ReplyDeleteIt seems that everyone in the town are selfish people, well not exactly selfish but to everybody in this town, if it's not personal, it's not important. Also, people in this town have their own beliefs and they firmly stick to them. Everybody felt that the twins would never actually kill Santiago, because he was a rich "white man". People also demonstrated the bystander effect, thinking someone else was doing something to stop the murder, which is why they didn't want to waste their time and stop it. It showed that society is cruel, and it's not easy to find people that care enough about saving a life.
Keith Knudsen
ReplyDeleteBlah blah blah Bystander effect. Everyone thought that the other would take control- they believed someone else would handle the situation and report the imminent murder. No one did. They also wanted to avoid getting involved, didn't want to make it their problem.
Marlena Hill
ReplyDeleteThe Bystander Effect could be a legitimate reason. But it could be that the people just didn't care to tell him, and were continuously getting sidetracked by the town festivities: the bishop, the wedding. Nobody made it their priority to let Santiago know he was going to die, that lets us know that nobody really cared for Santiago at all. Since he was in the upper class, that probably adds on to their dislike for him. A rich man knows nothing about the life of a poor man. Marquez was trying to make a point that people are corrupt and just don't care about anything that doesn't have to do with themselves.
Andie Sifontes
ReplyDeleteYeah, it could be a result of the bystander effect, but another reason that we discussed in class is that it could be linked to Santiago's symbolism of Jesus Christ. Santiago Nasar died with pride and did not say a word to try to stop them. He was wearing all white, angelic, and got up and walked all the way around his house and even smiled at the neighbors before he finally dropped. This shows that he could be dying for the sins of the people of the town. There has to be a reason the bishop doesn't care for the town so little as to not even have the common courtesy to stop. Something had to have happened.
because each person in the village had their excuse to not helping him most of them just didnt like him it just goes to show that your enemies are not likely to help you in your time of need. the actions shown by the villagers can be accounted for their ignorance and seldomself centered attitude can be insinuated that their dislike and careless people didnt want to help him. the author is trying to show that in our society today there are not alot of people even close to none that will help you during life and its rough times! -Brandon Bernard
ReplyDeleteStephana Reid
ReplyDeleteThe bystander effect is the reason why nobody warned Santiago. They thought that someone else was going to end up helping him so they wouldn't have to worry themselves. However some people like Victoria Guzman, wanted Santiago to die. Marquez is trying to show that people in society only want to help others when its convenient for them.
Veronica Wallace
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone that it's the bystander effect. Even when they didn't do anything, they tried to comfort themselves that it was okay that they didn't say anything. I agree with Stephana about what Marquez wants to show about society. But also you have to remember that everyone in that society was hiding something or had a secret. When Santiago was killed it was like he was dying for all of their "sins" or "secrets" so maybe that could be another reason why that the people didn't say anything.
Tay Brown
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everyone with it being the bystander effect. Nobody was going to say anything becauae they felt maybe somebody else is going to stop it. However in the town Santiago was seen as a outsider becauase he was a malatto. Not a pure breed. Many disliked him because of this. So he was disliked for various reasons so no one felt it necessary to help him .
Kristien Salisbury
ReplyDeleteI thought Clotilde sent a not in hopes that it would help Santiago?
As for the rest of the town, if you think about it, it's one of those thing where the town knows but they know it's also fate.
They know that whether they tell him or not those brothers would kill him and restore their honor to their family.
The murder still happening says that the town just fallows the flow and they aren't going to try and swim upstream, disrupting the flow.
I'm guessing Marquez was trying to show how cruel our society really is back in the day and in the future. How many people would disrupt the flow?
None.
I agree again, the Bystander effect took a strong effect into the death of Santiago Nasar and without a doubt of the fact nobody liked the man because he was rich, arabic, and probably other reason they allowed his death to occur to better the town because with a rich man gone your wives and kids are safe from rich men.
ReplyDeleteMickale Foard
Jessica Vilberg
ReplyDeleteBefore and during the time of the murder, everyone in the town had an excuse on why they did not help Santiago Nasar. Everyone knew but only Clotilde would go out of her way to try to stop it. With everyone's lack of compassion towards Santiago, it suggest that he never made any friends in the town, or he acted with such prestige because of his wealth, that people resented him for acting better than them. Or it could have been a race problem since he is part Arab. Marquez was trying to show that it is so easy to let someone else take the burden of telling Santiago and getting involved, but in the end it is still your fault when something happens to him. (he showed the guilt it put over the town when the people were coming up with all of their excuses, and showing their denile. )