Chronicle+Ess.+?'s

Culture and society in the story play a part in the novel because they show that a woman's virginity is sacred. The Vicario brothers go to extreme measures and kill Santiago Nasar for taking their sister's virginity. This proves that in the culture of Columbia, that a woman's virginity it sacred. For example, this varies from the United States. In the United States, it is not uncommon for a woman to lose their virginity before marriage. Also, in most families, if a woman has lost their virginity before marriage, the brother's of the woman do not make a huge ordeal over the scandal. In addition, the Colombian town ignores the Vicario brothers when they say they are going to murder Santiago. Although most of the townspeople knew that the Vicario brothers intended to kill him no one stopped it. In our culture this threat would have been taken very seriously and extreme measures would have been taken to prevent it. Also, the twins are sentenced to 3 years in prision. In America today, murder can get you a lifetime sentence. The Vicario twins got off easy. //__Hey it's Julie I changed the question 2&3 like Mr. Tanner asked and made it into one question. It doesnt flow very well tho__// Honor is defined as honesty, fairness, and integrity to one's beliefs, values, or actions. In the context of this novel honor means being true to your beliefs. In Colombian society it is believed that a woman's virginity should be taken from her by her husband after their wedding. Angela Vicario lost her virginity to a man other than her husband before her marriage; therefore she lost her honor. The honor of one's family should not ever come before the law. The law is there to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. In this instance, the Vicario twins proceeded to kill Santaigo Nasar without any proof but their sister's word. They punished the innocent without regard for the law at all. Had they abided by the law they wouldn't have been subject to it's punishment. One way that the Vicario twins can be characterized is by what others think of them; the people in the town see them as men with good morals, and not people that would commit a murder. They did not show honor when they killed Santiago Nasar because it was not showing integrety to their beliefs. They didn't really want to be criminals, they even told everyone about the crime to see if they would stop them. The only honor they showed was by upholding the honor of thir sister and abiding by their families values.
 * How do culture and society play a part in the novel?**
 * (2&3) What is honor? Should honor come before the law? Did the twins show honor by killing Nasar?**

People are responsible for their silence as well as the things that they do say. In the story all of the townspeople know that the murder is about to be committed yet only one person tells Nasar that he is about to be murdered, and even that person assumed that he already knew. Every person in the town assumes that it is someone else's responsiblitty to tell Nasar that the twins are looking for him. They have a mob mentality that says not to say anything. In this case, the consequence for their silence is that Nasar is murdered. On the other hand, some would argue that ignorance is bliss. Even if Santiago knew that the men were looking for him, the twins would have still found a way to kill him. In reality though, it is better that if you know something to speak up. Every day people are saved by anynomyous tips to the police about murder plots. Even if speaking up might not make a big difference you will have it off your concience knowing that you did all you could to prevent any problems.
 * What are the consequences of silence? Is being quiet a good thing or a bad thing?**