Chronicle of a Death Foretold

A lawyer will conclude that the murder is a case of “homicide in legitimate defense of honor” (48). The twins admit to killing Santiago but say that they are “innocent” (49). After the murder, the narrator says, the Vicario twins would explain to him how they began their search for Santiago. They searched for him at the house of María Alejandrina Cervantes, knowing that he had been there until at least 2:00am. Not finding Santiago, they visited the milk store belonging to Clotilde Armenta as it was “the only place open” (50). The shop is near Santiago’s house, so they waited for him to appear.

After Angela gives Santiago’s name to the twins, they act immediately. They fetch “the two best knives” (51) they use to butcher pigs, wrap them with rags, and have the knives sharpened. A butcher named Faustino Santos speculates as to why the twins are acting so strangely. He assumes they are drunk. When they talk, however, Pablo boldly announces their plan to murder Santiago. With such good reputations in the town, however, no one believes that the twins are capable of murder and dismiss the declaration as “drunkards’ baloney” (52).