Dry September as Depicted in Chronicles of a Death Foretold

Structural and Thematic Parallels in "Chronicle of a Death Foretold" and "Dry September"

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold and William Faulkner’s Dry September are strikingly similar both structurally and thematically, despite being separated by fifty years and a regional and linguistic barrier. Both narratives employ nonlinear storytelling to unravel tales of wrongful murder. However, beyond this surface similarity, further analysis of the stories reveals striking parallels between their characters, highlighting the harsh realities of their respective societies. Both Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Dry September feature "villains," represented by Angela Vicario and Minnie Cooper, respectively, whose accusations, influenced by societal pressures, led to brutal actions against the men they named. Additionally, both stories include "heroes," Clotilde Armenta and Henry Hawkshaw, whose inability to confront societal pressures prevents them from truly being heroic in averting the tragedies that unfold in their respective tales. Overall, these narratives illustrate the powerful hold of societal norms, which not only justify brutal actions to maintain the status quo but also gain support from those who may not explicitly harbor ill will.

The Role of Societal Expectations in Shaping Character Actions

In Chronicle of a Death Foretold, the notion of a pure woman is highly esteemed in the small, fictional town where Angela Vicario grows up. Raised by Purisima del Carmen, Angela is held to exceptionally high standards of purity. Angela understands the importance of this standard within her family and community, aware of the severe consequences she and others would face if it were discovered she had lost her virginity before marriage. This may explain why, when questioned by her brothers about the other man involved, she "nailed it to the wall with her well-aimed dart" by falsely naming Santiago Nasar (Marquez, 1981, p. 47). She anticipated her brothers would feel compelled to avenge her honor by targeting the scapegoat she provided. By naming Santiago, she chose someone whose womanizing history not only made the accusation more believable but also deflected blame from herself, portraying Santiago as the perpetrator. Santiago became an easy pawn she used to protect her honor within the family and, indirectly, her family’s honor in the community.

Similarly, in Dry September, Will Mayes becomes a pawn for Minnie Cooper. The society Minnie inhabits is also unfair to women, scorning those of a certain age who remain unmarried, like Minnie. This societal unfairness is evident when Minnie is "relegated into adultery by the public" upon dating a widowed banker (Faulkner, 1931, p. 4). Once admired in her younger years, Minnie might attempt to regain relevance by spreading a rumor about an incident with Will Mayes. Given that Will Mayes is a black man, she knows he is the perfect target to draw attention to her rumor and, consequently, to herself. Moreover, using Will Mayes stigmatizes her less, as her status as a white woman automatically casts her as the victim. Both Minnie and Angela exploit their knowledge of societal standards to their advantage, despite the deadly consequences.

Heroic Intentions Undermined by Societal Norms

Clotilde Armenta and Henry Hawkshaw are perhaps the most morally upright individuals in their respective towns, which is why they might be considered heroes. In Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Clotilde, the proprietress of a local milk shop, alerts several people, including Father Amador and Cristo Bedoya, to warn the soon-to-be murder victim, Santiago. She also attempts to intoxicate the twins in her shop to prevent them from carrying out their gruesome plan. In Dry September, Hawkshaw, a local barber, defends Will Mayes against cruel rumors and follows McLendon’s mob on their way to lynch the man. The actions of these characters suggest they care about the well-being of the victim. However, both "heroes" distance themselves just enough to prevent any real heroism. Clotilde never makes direct attempts to interfere with the twins' murder plans, despite ample opportunities. For instance, when they first visit her shop and see Santiago, she tells them, "Leave him for later, if only out of respect for his grace the bishop" (Marquez, 1981, p. 16). In this moment, she could have urged them to abandon their plans. Instead, she merely delayed them and entertained the notion of killing Santiago. Her lack of decisive action underscores the fallibility of human nature. Though well-intentioned, she finds it incredibly difficult to outright oppose the town’s emphasis on upholding honor.

Hawkshaw faces a similar dilemma. The general consensus in his town is that a black man should never associate with a white woman, and if he does, he must be punished. While Hawkshaw speaks in favor of Will Mayes and accompanies the lynch mob, he jumps out of the car just before the killing occurs. Remaining involved at that critical moment would brand him as a "nigger-lover," a stigma requiring immense strength of will to endure (Faulkner, 1931, p. 6). Hawkshaw lacks this strength. His intentions are noble, but ultimately insufficient to overcome the expectations of his racist society.

Conclusion: The Power of Societal Norms

Both Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Dry September demonstrate how societal norms wield significant power, dictating the actions and fate of individuals. Through characters like Angela Vicario, Minnie Cooper, Clotilde Armenta, and Henry Hawkshaw, these stories expose the damaging influence of societal pressures and the moral complexities individuals face when navigating such environments. While the narratives unfold in different cultural contexts, their shared themes of wrongful murder and the complicity of bystanders underscore a universal truth: the status quo can perpetuate injustice, often with the tacit approval of those who fear to challenge it.

References

• Faulkner, W. (1931). Dry September. In Collected Stories of William Faulkner. Random House.
• Marquez, G. G. (1981). Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Harper & Row.