Summary of Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

We are told within the first line of the book that our main character, Siantiago Nasar, is going to be killed. The title of the book foreshadows the first line of the sentence, as it states that Siantiago will be killed. Santiago's physical traits are described (ex: hair type, skin color, ect.) Santiago's past with his father is discussed in detail, including his father's personality type, and particular memories from before his father passed away. There is talk of Victoria Guzman, and how she was violently seduced by Santiago's father. Soon it is described where Santiago goes before his death - the docks to see the bishop on his boat. Santiago is then invited to by Margot, the narrators sister, to her house. Everyone, at this time, believes that Santiago has been warned about his death. Santiago tells Margot he must go home to change his clothes, then he'll come over. Towards the end of the story we learn that Angela Vicario, a bride from the day before, has been returned to her parents for not being a virgin. We are unsure as to how Santiago is mixed-up in this.

Act 2

We are told about Bayardo San Roman, the groom of Angela Vicario. We learn that Bayardo initially met Angela when he saw her passing through town square with her mother in clothes of mourning. The second time that Bayardo sees Angela she is selling raffle tickets. He buys all of the raffle tickets, wins the raffle, and gives the prize, a pearl necklace, back to Angela as a present. We learn about the Vicario families history and current background. Her father, Poncio Vicario, is a goldsmith. Purisima de Carmen, Angel's mother, was a school teacher before she married Poncio. Angela truly doesn't want to marry Bayardo. Also, no one knows, as of right now, that Angela really isn't a virgin. Their wedding is discussed in detail, and we learn that it was a large, complex wedding. The section ends with Bayardo going to Angela's house and shoving her back into her house towards her mother. Pura slaps Angela and pulls her hair. Pedro, one of Angela's brother who is a twin, asks Angela who has taken her virginity. We are told it was Santiago Nasar.

Act 3

The act starts up with the Vicario twins looking for Santiago Nasar. They wait for him near his house. Instantaneously after Angela confesses that it was Santaigo, her two brothers go out to the pigsty to acquire weapons. Faustino Santos, one of the butchers, thought that the twins are just drunk. The twins talk to the butchers and state that they are going to kill Santiago. No one believes them since that the twins are generally good people. At the milk shop the twins drink some liquor and tell Clothilde that they are going to kill Santiago. She tells her husband, but he suggests that she is just being silly. The police learn of the twins' plan to kill Santiago, and track them down. The knives are then taken away, and the colonel states that he believes the twins were merely bluffing. The twins get two new knives from home. The fiancee of Pablo states that she will not marry him unless he holds up the honor of his sister by murdering Santiago. Santiago says he wants to take a nap before going to see the bishop. Clothilde tells Father Carmen Amador of the planned murder, but he forgets because of the Bishop's arrival.

Act 4

The town doctor is absent, so the mayor orders that Father Carmen Abador perform the autopsy. It's performed at a public school with the top medical student. The autopsy is poorly executed, and Santiago's body is quickly buried afterwards. The narrator visits Maria, who will not sleep with him because he smells of Santiago. The Vicario twins complain of the smell as well. The Vicario family flees town. We soon learn that the mayor goes to visit Bayardo a week after the autopsy, and finds him almost dead due to alcohol poisoning. The doctor comes and treats him. As soon as Bayardo is treated, and then throws the mayor and the doctor out of his house. Soon after Bayardo is taken away on a boat by the Vicario twins and the general. We learn that Angela thinks about Bayardo constantly, and that she doesn't cry because her mom beats her - she cries because she misses Bayardo. Angela starts writing him letters. After seventeen and a half years Bayardo comes to her job. He states along the lines of "Well, here I am!". One of his suitcases is filled with clothes, while the other suitcase is filled with letters that she sent him, tied up with colorful ribbons, and all still not opened.

Act 5

The narrator tells us that for years upon years no one would speak a word of the murder of Santiago. The investigative magistrate arrives twelve days after the murder, and is alarmed due to the fact that there is no evidence showing that Santiago took Angela's virginity. There was a lack of justification. We are told that many people warned Santiago the day of his murder as he walked through town. As soon as Cristo finds out about the plan to kill Santiago, he runs to Santiago's house. He's not there, and Cristo takes Santiago's gun off of his night table. However, the gun is not loaded. Santiago was actually at Flora Miguel's, his fiancee's house, who was upset about the whole matter. She figured that even if they figure out that it wasn't Santiago, that he would have to marry Angela anyway to restore back her honor. Flora tells Santiago that she hopes that they do kill him. Flora goes into her room and locks the door. Soon after, Santiago heads home. He is yelled at by Clothilde to run home. However, his mother had just closed the door as she was told he was home already by someone. The Vicario twins chase after Santiago as he runs home and catch up to him, stab him repeatedly. After the attack, all of Santiago's entrails were hanging out. He got up, walked a hundred or so yards around his house, and went in the kitchen door. As Santiago enters he falls on his face.