Humans are greedy and selfish by nature. In the novella, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez follows the various events that surround the murder of the main character, Santiago Nasar. The division of social roles is a key feature that is ingeniously integrated into the passage; specifically, when Bayardo San Roman attempts to persuade Xius, a widower, to sell his house in order to attain Angela Vicario’s hand in marriage. Within this gripping story, filled with death and misunderstandings, visual imagery displays the repercussions of greed. In addition, Bayardo San Roman’s persistent and unsympathetic nature is unmasked through characterization. Lastly, the motif of money highlights the importance of wealth
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When first approaching Xius, Bayardo asks him for the “price of the house” (Garcia Márquez 36). The word “price” foreshadows that there will be a price to be paid. The word suggests something that is loss, required and expected. Garcia Marquez uses this form of diction as a motif of money because it contains a negative connotation of the financial expectations of Colombian society. Bayardo uses his unlimited resources to attempt to convince Xius to sell his livelihood and the very existence of happiness. In exchange for this, “five thousand pesos” (García Márquez 36). García Márquez implies that the foundations of relationships found in Colombian society are poisoned by class and money. This passage informs the audience and the readers about the worldview of the characters, where conflict is seen as artificial and unserious. This is because money alters the way people interact with one another, for they now assume that money is the answer to everything. Even with Xius continuously stating that he will not sell the house, Bayardo does not simply stop and lose interest in this opposition and obstacle against his engagement with Angela. He begins to place “one bill on top of another” (García Márquez 37). Garcia Marquez purposely places these references of money in this passage to indicate the significant differences in the value of money depending on the character. With each additional bill placed, Xius is slowly becoming more desperate and anxious. Each stacked bill is similar to a sword strike, slashing and killing his very foundation and pride. In contrast, Bayardo is nonchalant, not giving a single care for the money that will be loss. The motif of money present within the novel informs the audience of the underlying social rules of Colombian society. One’s social class and
When first approaching Xius, Bayardo asks him for the “price of the house” (Garcia Márquez 36). The word “price” foreshadows that there will be a price to be paid. The word suggests something that is loss, required and expected. Garcia Marquez uses this form of diction as a motif of money because it contains a negative connotation of the financial expectations of Colombian society. Bayardo uses his unlimited resources to attempt to convince Xius to sell his livelihood and the very existence of happiness. In exchange for this, “five thousand pesos” (García Márquez 36). García Márquez implies that the foundations of relationships found in Colombian society are poisoned by class and money. This passage informs the audience and the readers about the worldview of the characters, where conflict is seen as artificial and unserious. This is because money alters the way people interact with one another, for they now assume that money is the answer to everything. Even with Xius continuously stating that he will not sell the house, Bayardo does not simply stop and lose interest in this opposition and obstacle against his engagement with Angela. He begins to place “one bill on top of another” (García Márquez 37). Garcia Marquez purposely places these references of money in this passage to indicate the significant differences in the value of money depending on the character. With each additional bill placed, Xius is slowly becoming more desperate and anxious. Each stacked bill is similar to a sword strike, slashing and killing his very foundation and pride. In contrast, Bayardo is nonchalant, not giving a single care for the money that will be loss. The motif of money present within the novel informs the audience of the underlying social rules of Colombian society. One’s social class and