Death Foretold Religion

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In Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold,religion plays a very important role. The society in this novel is mainly Catholic. In Catholisism, they believe that a women's virginity is sacred and should be saved for the husband. This novel emphasizes the role of the church because it is very important to this culture and society. This shows in their actions to prepare for the bishop coming into town. When the secret is revealed of Angela Vicario's lost virginity when before she's married, this shows a strong meaning of Catholicism because the Vicario's brothers were willing to kill a man. The Vicario brothers decision to kill Santiago Nasar because supposedly stole Angela Vicario's virginity was because of the honor killing in their culture and it is expected of them. It appears that the characters lack individuality and communal values run through the towns peoples thoughts.

Religion takes a huge role in this novel; but it could also be considered a negative role in some ways. The town revolves around the community values set years before, and it also lacks strength to overcome the community values set to adjust to the present day values set by society. Furthermore, this is shown by the characters in the novel only watching what happens in the book, not trying to stop or help. The characters thought that the Vicario brothers would never actually come through with the plan, especially because the bishop was in town, so they didn’t listen to the threats made to Santiago Nasar.

The communal values evolve around religious events, having family honor and virginity. Even though the church’s betrayal is versatile, when the bishop arrives, it emphasizes the failure clearer. The people of the town, including the prie...

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...ems like their religion is something they try to use as a way out of the sin they’ve committed.

In this novel, religion is hypocritical, beginning with the bishop not stopping to bless the town, which happened to let them down. Santiago was killed because of someone elses wrong doing, which is similar to being sacrificed for the towns sin. They also had Father Carmen do the autopsy, when he’s not a doctor so he’s not cut out for the job. This act showed disrespect to Santiago Nasar’s body because he mutilated it. Treating his body with such disrespect and honor doesn’t follow along with the Catholic religion, which means Father Carmens ways could be questions.

Religion in this novel seems to take a big role, however it’s a negative role. This town is revolved around communal values from hundreds of years ago, and they don’t have the strength to overcome it.

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