In Gabriel Garcia Márquez's story Chronicle of a Death Foretold, honor is presented as a force that acts and influences the characters and the community to which they belong. Márquez explores the problem of perpetuation and participation in traditions by examining the duality of maintaining honor. His critique of honor is well captured in the image of Poncio Vicario sitting on a stool in the midst of a wedding celebration. This image serves as a microcosm of Márquez's attitude towards honor as a driving force within Latin American society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Located at the center of the narrative, the narrator describes the elderly Poncio Vicario, a former goldsmith who became blind after years of dedicated work. He sits on a stool in the middle of his daughter's wedding celebrations. His family “puts it there perhaps thinking it is the place of honor,” yet the guests at the party trample on it. Poncio, in his blindness, is unable to fully understand his position. He “nods his snow-white head in all directions” and “answers questions that are not directed at him,” content “in his circle of oblivion…”. Within this small passage two key themes are raised: the idea and pursuit of wealth and the idea of ​​'pride of honour' as it relates to the concepts of sight and blindness. The relationship of these themes to the defense of honor will be explored in the following paragraphs. The search and obsession for wealth are a prevalent thread in Chronicle of a Death Foretold. Several characters express interest in the cost of events and objects or in acquiring wealth. The narrator also does not part with this school of thought, as he notes that Bayardo San Román “bought all the lottery tickets” to purchase an expensive music box for Angela Vicario. In this short story there is a strong correlation between wealth and social position. For example, when Angela Vicario expresses disinterest in marrying Bayardo San Román, her loved ones deny this idea, stating that “a decent family with modest means has no right to disdain the prize of destiny.” Here, obtaining wealth is presented as a means of advancing one's social position. While general character and support for social values ​​may rank higher in terms of reputation, wealth is also a determining factor in how one is received by one's community. Bayardo San Román is a great example of this. When he arrives in Sucre, the narrator's mother states that he is "swimming in gold." This is why Bayardo San Román is considered a fascinating individual, "capable of doing everything". This positive community response towards him is partly due to the wealth he possesses. The connection between wealth and social position reflects a typical Latin American conception of honor. In general, Latin American societies are honor-based, meaning that honor is considered a core ideology. Individuals in "honor societies" place equal importance on their personal values ​​and others' perceptions of themselves. Maintaining your reputation is crucial in "honor societies", so you may go to great lengths to protect your reputation or that of your loved ones. Therefore the character's obsession with accumulating wealth is directly linked to maintaining honor. When Angela Vicario's family insists that she marry Bayardo San Román, their insistence is fueled by a desire to increase their social standing, thus increasing their reputation and upholding their honor..