World Literature
Dr. Ramirez
Overview of Gabriel Garcia Marquez
and his work
Gabriel Garcia Marquez: was born
in Aracataca, Colombia in 1928. Aracataca is on the Caribbean coast in
the state of Sucre--a site of Banana production for an American market
and, in 1928, a site of a Banana strike. Thus, the term "Banana Republic."
This region became a setting for many of Garcia Marquez's novels:
One Hundred Years of Solitude,
Of Love and Other Demons,
Chronicle of a Death Foretold.
Also important to this Caribbean
region is the state of political unrest and the 19th century civil war
between the Liberals and Conservatives. This has given rise to military
dictators who are then overthrown by one another. One notable assassination
is that of Gaitan, a liberal candidate for presidency in 1949. La violencia
(civil strife) took place between 1948-1958.
Garcia Marquez was educated at the
National University (Bogota) and the University of Cartagena; studied law
three years.
Garcia Marquez's work represents
Caribbean, Latin American, and "old world" cultures. Elements of Chronicle
of a Death Foretold include:
-
Community cohesion
-
Tradition
-
Appearances and clothing are important
-
Santiago and other Arabs are religious
and respectful (Bishop's visit)
-
Honor is important (a medieval one)
-
Machismo (Vicario shaves with machete)
-
Narrator reveals a curiousity about
family connections
-
People are hard working (the town gets
up early to work after a long night of festivities)
-
Mix of cultures (Arabs, Afro-Caribbeans,
Spanish Americans etc)
-
Mix of classes
-
Sexuality and violence
-
Importance of weapons--Knives, guns,
etc.
-
Setting--almond trees, banana trees,
swamps, coastal
Questions for consideration:
1) Why does Bayardo choose Angela
for his bride?
2) What role does tradition/honor
play in the killing of Santiago?
3) What is the town's response
to the Vicario brothers when they announce their intentions?
4) Why does Santiago fixate on
the cost of the wedding?
5) How is the Santiago figure an
"easy" target for vengeance in Marquez's story?
6) How do women's roles change
in the public sphere and in the private sphere?
7) Why does Victoria Guzman fail
to warn Santiago?
8) How does the arrival of the
Bishop complicate both the wedding and the murder?
9) How do authority figures like
Colonel Aponte and Father Amador respond to the impending disaster?
10) What motivates Angela to target
Santiago?
12) How is Bayardo too much of
a man for Angela?
13) Why are knives important in
the novel?
14) What role does Angela's mother,
Pura, play in the tragedy?