THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A DEATH MORE FORETOLD: The Value of Honour in Latin American Culture

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Atupele Ndisale

IB English A1

February 2, 2009

"THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A DEATH MORE FORETOLD":

The Value of Honour in Latin American Culture

"The brothers were brought up to be men. The girls were brought up to be married" (p. 30). Honour is an aspect of life that has always been greatly valued in Latin American society or culture. For men, honour is simply acquired or shown through three main things; courage, assertiveness (strength), and authority, particularly over women. On the other hand, for women, honour simply lies in the question of whether or not they had been involved in a sexual relationship outside or before a marriage. The males of the society are expected to protect and defend this honour and any failure to do so doesn't only result in the diminishment of the women's honour, subjecting her to ridicule, but that of their own. This importance or value of honour in Latin American society or culture is one of the main issues that Gabriel García Márquez manages to cover in his short novel, entitled Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Through his use of several narrative techniques, characters, and motifs in