Reflective Statement

Through the interactive orals I gained a deeper insight into Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 'chronicle of a death foretold' and a lot of ideas that I previously had were hugely enhanced. Social Expectations and obligations play a role of influence in understanding the book. In the interactive oral we discussed the role of gender in the society. It was easy to understand that women had to adopt the prejudice values of the society while men are expected to be an example of machismo in their daily lives in the book.

Gender roles like the women have to do household work but the men have to earn for the family is a common thing in the book and in my culture. Even in my own house this happens and the main fact is that even my parents expect me to earn when I will be able to, but simply they do not expect me to do household work. Since Angela was a woman she was forced to do work at home while her brothers Pablo and Pedro had to earn for the family. Machismo is seen throughout the book due to the emphasis on male pride and sexual behaviour of the male characters. Machismo is also very common thing in my culture, wives are forced to listen to their husbands and be accordingly. Machismo in the book plays a major role it leads to the killing of Santiago Nasar without any trial or evidence and demonstration of machismo by Bayardo as he suggests that a woman is only worth marrying if a virgin. However machismo was more interconnected with honour in the book. Honour was something in common with every character. Honour is seen in the conspiracy of the death of Santiago Nasar, as it was committed by the Vicario brothers in order to gain back the honour that Angela lost when she had premarital sex and due to that a failed marriage. Most people in the society in the book tend to think that disputes over honour are better left to those involved. This was something that I failed to understand that why was it so the case as how can this be let happen when it is a matter of Human life being threaten to death?

In the end I was clear with the roles of each and every character and the discussion further allowed me to understand the role of the society. Garcia's powerful narration and description made me study more about the Latin-American culture and its history.