Chronicle of a Death Foretold: Angela Vicario Character Analysis
Angela Vicario Character Analysis
Centrality to the Story and Narrative Importance:
Angela Vicario is presented as "the main character" of Chronicle of a Death Foretold.
She is the most frequently quoted character and possesses the strongest "narrative voice" within the novel.
She is at the heart of the central mystery: whether Santiago Nasar genuinely took her virginity.
Her enigmatic nature persists as she never definitively reveals Santiago's guilt or innocence by the story's end.
Early Life and Character Traits:
Angela is a distant cousin of the narrator.
As a young girl, she was considered the most beautiful among her four sisters.
The narrator observed in her a "helpless air and a poverty of spirit that augured an uncertain future for her."
She was often seen sitting in her window, crafting cloth flowers, and the narrator noted her increasing destitution over the years.
Her "penury of spirit" was said to have been "aggravated by the years," leading people to view Bayardo San Roman's desire to marry her as an "outsider's plan" due to her perceived unsuitability for such a match.
Reluctance Towards Marriage with Bayardo San Roman:
Angela initially expressed strong objections to marrying Bayardo San Roman.
She found him "too much of a man" for her, describing him as "stuck up" and a "Polack."
A significant irritation was her perception that he did not court her, but rather "ingratiated himself with her family."
Her parents disregarded her objections, with her mother famously stating that "love could be learned."
Post-Affair Transformation and Obsession:
Contrary to expectations at the time of her return, Angela eventually fell deeply in love with Bayardo San Roman after he returned her to her house following the wedding night revelation.
Years later, when the narrator revisited her, he found her extensively changed: she answered questions "with very good judgment and a sense of humor."
The narrator remarked on her maturity and wit, finding it "difficult to believe that she was the same person."
When pressed again about Santiago Nasar's guilt regarding her virginity, she reaffirmed: "Don't beat it to death, cousin. He was the one."
Her love for Bayardo evolved into an "inexplicable obsession," manifested in a ritual of writing letters to him.
This habit became weekly and persisted for seventeen years, despite receiving no initial response.
Bayardo's Return and Angela's "Triumph":
Bayardo San Roman eventually returned to Angela, which the narrative suggests is as strange as her seventeen-year letter-writing ritual.
In a personal sense, Angela "triumphs" by achieving the resolution she desired in her life with Bayardo.
However, this romantic conclusion does not provide any new insight or clarity regarding the murder of Santiago Nasar.
Angela consistently maintained Santiago Nasar was the one who took her virginity, offering no further details.
The narrative raises doubt about her honesty, questioning whether "she would have been willing to reveal the name of the man who truly took her virginity, especially if she still had feelings for him."
Her ambiguity ensures that the mystery of Santiago's guilt remains unresolved for the reader.