The fictional novel based on a true story – Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez – depicts multiple perspectives of the gruesome and consequential death of Santiago Nasar; the son of an Arab father known to be quite well-endowed monetarily. Throughout the text there is implementation of imagery and symbolism, often very grotesque, which accentuates the significance of different passages and scenes. In addition, it boosts the elements of foreshadowing and brings out empathetic emotional responses that the novelist attempts elicit from the reader. The specific and purposeful uses of imagery and symbolism of Santiago’s dreams, the description of the funeral, and the metaphoric descriptions of characters and objects in the novel
…show more content…
Santiago’s body is grotesquely described in details that would make some feel nauseous. After the autopsy, “...Cristo Bedoya had put the intestines back in place and wrapped the body in linen strips. Nevertheless, in the afternoon a syrup-colored liquid began to flow from the wounds, drawing flies, and a purple blotch appeared on the upper lip and spread out very slowly, like the shadow of a cloud on water, up to the hairline. His face, which had always been easy-going, took on a hostile expression, and his mother covered it with a handkerchief.” (74). This vile description of Santiago's body conveys empathy for Santiago and those who knew him while Márquez tries to elevate the audience's feeling of unjustness towards the crime committed against him. The change of his facial expression reinforces the idea that he is displeased about the way he died. Márquez also uses vivid descriptions of the smell of Santiago as it radiates through the town, “Everything continued smelling of Santiago Nasar that day.” (78). The injustice of the murder and the guilt the townspeople felt because they didn’t warn Santiago is represented by the smell. This also relates to the guilt of the Vicario brothers and how they, “could smell him in their jail cell… No matter how much I scrubbed with soap and rags, I couldn't get rid of the smell.” (78). It also utilizes imagery and symbolism to convey the feelings of the town as a whole. They all knew what was going to happen, but didn’t say anything and that guilt is hangs over them like a
Santiago’s body is grotesquely described in details that would make some feel nauseous. After the autopsy, “...Cristo Bedoya had put the intestines back in place and wrapped the body in linen strips. Nevertheless, in the afternoon a syrup-colored liquid began to flow from the wounds, drawing flies, and a purple blotch appeared on the upper lip and spread out very slowly, like the shadow of a cloud on water, up to the hairline. His face, which had always been easy-going, took on a hostile expression, and his mother covered it with a handkerchief.” (74). This vile description of Santiago's body conveys empathy for Santiago and those who knew him while Márquez tries to elevate the audience's feeling of unjustness towards the crime committed against him. The change of his facial expression reinforces the idea that he is displeased about the way he died. Márquez also uses vivid descriptions of the smell of Santiago as it radiates through the town, “Everything continued smelling of Santiago Nasar that day.” (78). The injustice of the murder and the guilt the townspeople felt because they didn’t warn Santiago is represented by the smell. This also relates to the guilt of the Vicario brothers and how they, “could smell him in their jail cell… No matter how much I scrubbed with soap and rags, I couldn't get rid of the smell.” (78). It also utilizes imagery and symbolism to convey the feelings of the town as a whole. They all knew what was going to happen, but didn’t say anything and that guilt is hangs over them like a