Aguilar 1

Priscilla Aguilar

Smith

IB English

16 December 2020

The Corruption of Latin Culture

In the tragic novella,​ Chronicle of a Death Foretold,​ Coloumbian author Gabriel Garcìa

Màrquez gives insight into Colombian society by implementing the cultural values of honor and

machismo in order to exhibit their menacing influence on the Latin society. On the day of

Santiago Nasar’s appalling murder, the townspeople dilberetly neglect the disclosure of his

premediated murder. They reveal that the “affairs of honor are sacred monopolies giving access

only to those who are part of the drama” (97). Despite the townspeople’s awareness, their

concealment of their morals and beliefs display that their honor is more crucial than intervening

with Santiago’s murder. The honor that an individual holds forces one to avoid doing the right

task and taking responsibility; without honor, individuals are scrutinized as powerless and

unacceptable to society. Similarly, the wife of Pablo Vicario indicates that she “wouldn’t have

married [Pablo] if he hadn’t done what a man should do'' (62). Not only does this portray that

Pablo would have been undesirable to her because of his lack of honor, but also unveils the idea

of machismo by men requiring sovereignty in order to be considered and treated as a man.

Throughout the novella, men are depicted as having dominance over women with their

utilization of their money, demonstrating the power men acquire solely because of their wealth.

Bayardo San Román, Angela’s arranged husband, was acknowledged for his endless wealth.

Once Angela’s parents discovered that he “was capable of doing everything..[and] had access to

endless resources'', his wealth and power ultimately persuaded them into letting her marry him
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(27). But once after becoming aware of Angela’s impurity and premarital sex, Bayardo leaves

Angela; she then loses her honor and pride leading to the Vicario brothers trying to restore the

family’s honor and brutally murdering Santiago. Thus, Gabriel Garcìa Màrquez incorporates the

atrocious cultural values of machismo and honor to express the double standards that pertain to

men and women to conclusively portray that without honor, one is considered an outcast in Latin

culture; ultimately, revealing the daunting events that can occur.

Meets Standard Approaching Standard Below Standard

(5 points) (3 points) (1 point)

Thesis Statement Thesis is clear, concise, Thesis attempts to Thesis is vague,

and argumentative; it answer the prompt, but is underdeveloped, and/or
effectively and accurately not specific or concise inaccurate; it does not
answers all aspects of the enough to provide clarity answer the prompt
prompt for the argument

Textual Evidence Paragraph includes at Paragraph includes at Paragraph lacks the

least 3-5 pieces of strong least 2-3 pieces of textual necessary amount of
textual evidence, with evidence, though some textual evidence to
context for the reader’s context is missing for the effectively support the
understanding; all quotes reader’s understanding; thesis; context is missing
are woven and cited some quotes are woven and quotes are woven and
correctly and cited incorrectly cited incorrectly

Analysis Commentary Paragraph provides Paragraph includes Paragraph is limited in

ample commentary after commentary for each the essential amount of
each piece of evidence example, though the commentary needed to
that effectively explains analysis is limited in express a thorough
each example and nature and does not understanding of the play;
provides the necessary thoroughly explain each analysis is simplistic and
analysis to support the piece of textual evidence does not effectively prove
thesis the thesis
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Syntax & Grammar Sentences are varied in Sentences are varied in Sentences are simplistic
syntax, proving a syntax, commonly using and repetitive regarding
complexity of writing compound-complex syntax; there are common
with compound-complex sentences, though there errors in grammar and
sentences and purposeful are a few errors in punctuation, such as
simple and compound grammar and punctuation fragments, run-ons,
sentences; there are no missing commas, etc.
noticeable grammar or
punctuation errors

Academic Vocabulary Academic vocabulary is Academic vocabulary is Paragraph’s diction is

used throughout the attempted throughout the common, slang,
paragraph, bringing a paragraph, though there sophomoric, and/or
level of sophistication is some slang or un-academic
and complexity to the sophomoric diction
paragraph

Effective Conclusion Conclusion sentence(s) is Conclusion sentence is Conclusion is missing

enlightening and repetitive of the topic altogether or it simply
inspiring, leaving the sentence, with an attempt repeats the topic sentence
reader with an interesting at summarizing the main
idea to consider issue of the paragraph

Total: /30 Points