"Chronicles of a Death Foretold": Theme Paper

Honor is something that human beings have practiced throughout history. It can even be considered the oldest tradition. From the chivalrous knights who's honor code was their life, to the great samurai warriors of Japan that in order to save lost honor, they had to commit kamikaze, which was their way of suicide. In Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, two brother's, twins, are burdened with the tradition of honor. Their sister …

…in a murder that had to do with saving someone's honor. It all had to do with the Bystander Effect, that since everyone knew that everyone knew, everyone thought someone else would jump in and take a stand. But since everyone thought the same thing, no one did anything at all. And although Santiago was killed, and Angela's honor recovered, the town still felt the pain of keeping quiet when a fellow friend needed help.