Chronicle of a Death Foretold

The absence of Dr. Dionisio Iguaran prompts the mayor to turn to Father Carmen Amador when the time comes to perform an “inclement autopsy” (72) on Santiago’s body. The body is being held in “public view” (73) at a school. The priest is assisted by a medical student and a pharmacist. In the autopsy report, Amador says that Santiago died as a result of a hemorrhage which was caused by a series of seven stab wounds. The autopsy is rushed, has “no legal standing” (75), and the authorities move to bury Santiago as quickly as possible.

After the autopsy, the narrator visits María Alejandrina Cervantes. She refuses to have intercourse with the narrator because his “smell” reminds her too much of Santiago (78). The Vicario brothers experience a similar problem: They claim that they cannot sleep and that Santiago’s scent is still lingering on them. They are detained in the local jail, where Pablo experiences a longstanding illness. Both brothers are “comforted by the honor of having done their duty” (79).

The Vicario family leaves the town. When Angela is departing, she wears a wrap around her head to hide the bruises inflicted on her by her mother.