Chapter 3

Opening Question
Examine the progression of events in Chapter 3 as related to the ​bystander effect/diffusion of
responsibility​ and the significance of the people who “knew”.
Record your response. Add any additional notes after your discussion.
In chapter 3, the Vicario brothers have decided to kill Santiago Nasar in order to defend
the honor of their sister. Virtually the whole town knew the murder was going to happen, and yet
did nothing to stop it. First the brothers both had their doubts about carrying out the deed, but
neither stopped the other. Victoria Guzman and several butchers that knew said that they
thought it was just “drunkards’ baloney” because they twins had a reputation of being good
people (52). These people found any excuse not to take action. One of the butchers, Faustino
Santos, told a policeman and he did nothing to put a stop it except take the twins knives. The
twins promptly acquired more knives. Then Clotilde Armenta found out. She was afraid, but her
husband convinced her that it was not a real threat, and she conformed to his idea and did not
take action. Later, the priest talks about how he knew but thought it was not his responsibility.
He even said that the twins were innocent before God, and when the twins turned themselves
in, he saw it as an act of dignity. By the end of the chapter, everybody knew. All the bystanders
were part of a group and conformed to the actions of the group, which was to do nothing. The
brothers made their intentions clear, hoping that someone would stop them, but know one did. It
would not be honorable if they stopped themselves from carrying out the murder, but if someone
else had stopped them, their honor would be upheld. No one warned Santiago Nasar, possibly
due to prejudices against him. Santiago Nasar was rich and of Arab descent, making him an
outsider in the town.

Closing Question
Having discussed two motifs today, please select one to commentate on: honor or diffusion of
responsibility.
Examine what Marquez is saying about one of these global issues and how he goes about it.
In chapter 3, Marquez reveals that the idea of honor can be toxic, especially when a
society places too much importance or emphasis on it. Pablo Vicario claims that although he
and his brother killed Santiago Nasar, the are innocent “before God and before men” because “it
was a matter of honor” (49). Even the priest agrees that they are innocent, at least to some
degree. The fact the the Vicario brothers and the priest, who is an authority figure in the town,
believe they are innocent because it was a matter of honor shows how this society places a
great importance on honor. This is important because it means that people will go to great
lengths to protect this honor, even going against the law. Additionally, the Vicario brothers tell
practically the whole town of their plans to murder Santiago Nasar, perhaps hoping that
someone will stop them. Clotilde Armenta says that the police officer should have detained them
“to spare those poor boys from the horrible duty that’s fallen on them” (57). This shows that
killing Santiago Nasar is expected of these brothers because they are expected to defend their
family and their sister’s honor. Honor is so important in this society that it cause these terrible
expectations to be placed on people to go to great lengths to defend their honor. Prudencia
Cotes, Pablo Vicario’s fiancee, says that she “never would have married him if he hadn’t done
what a man should do,” which was killing Santiago Nasar in defense of his sister’s honor (62).
The fact that his fiancee would have called off the wedding shows that the societal expectations
of defending honor place too much pressure on people and have toxic effects. The society in
this town places too much emphasis on the defense of honor, causing unreasonable
expectations and pressures,