The Of Their Daughters In The Essay Example

in the two texts. The society in So Long a Letter is more liberal, as Ramatoulaye marries who she wants despite her mother's reservations, whereas Angela had to marry Bayardo whether she liked it or not, reflecting a less liberal society in Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

Both Angela and Ramatoulaye deviate from the men their mothers had chosen, yet the authors of both texts evoke a sense of guilt in the characters for defying their mothers. In Ramatoulaye's case, this is evident in the 6th and 7th chapters where she reflects on her decision to marry her husband and remembers her mother's choice. She experiences a feeling of guilt for not obeying her mother, expressed in the sentence "I no longer scorn my mother's reserve concerning you (Modou), for a mother can instinctively feel where her child's happiness lies." The nostalgic tone in these chapters further amplifies this sense of guilt. Similarly, Marquez creates a feeling of guilt in Angela Vicario through her fixation on Bayardo after he leaves her - she writes numerous letters to him, constantly envisions him, and even becomes a virgin for him. Although guilt is present in both characters, Ramatoulaye's guilt is justified due to Modou's betrayal, whereas Angela's is somewhat mysterious as Marquez does not provide a clear explanation for her sudden love for Bayardo. The mothers' decisions in both texts seem to represent their desire for their daughters to have a different life than their own.

In Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Victoria Guzman is determined to prevent her daughter, Divina Flor, from experiencing the same fate as herself: becoming the mistress of Ibrahim Nassar and ending up as

his servant. To ensure her daughter's safety, she goes to extreme lengths such as killing rabbits in front of Santiago to discourage any advances he may make towards Divina. Marquez utilizes this act of Victoria not only as a warning to Santiago, but also as a cleansing symbol for society. The bowels of the rabbit, which cannot be consumed due to being unhealthy, represent the negative elements of society that need to be removed for its betterment.

Both So Long a Letter and Chronicle of a Death Foretold feature forced marriages of women due to financial reasons. In So Long a Letter, Lady Mother in Law arranges for her daughter, Binetou, to marry Modou for financial gain, with the added selfish motive of wanting a luxurious lifestyle for herself. This highlights the greater level of selfishness in the society depicted in So Long a Letter. Similarly, in Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Angela Vicario is forced to marry Bayardo San Roman by her mother, Pura Vicario, due to his wealth. The subjugation of women is evident in both texts, as they both have their marriages arranged by their mothers.

The authors of both cases raise the question of whether women are their own worst enemies. In both texts, mothers are tasked with developing the climax of the story. Pura Vicario's insistence on her daughter marrying Bayardo ultimately leads to Santiago's honor killing by Angela's brothers as vengeance for taking away her virginity, as well as Bayardo returning her on their wedding night for the same reason. Similarly, in So Long a Letter, Lady Mother-in-Law is credited with developing the climax where Modou betrays Ramatoulaye by

marrying a second wife. She forces Binetou to marry him despite the consequences, in order to receive a better life. However, both texts portray a lack of respect towards the mothers who helped create the climax after it is reached.

In the novels Chronicle of a Death Foretold and So Long a Letter, mothers exert significant influence on their daughters' lives. Pura Vicario's family is forced to relocate due to circumstances beyond their control, while Lady Mother in Law and Binetou are compelled to move from their home because it has been purchased by Daba, Ramatoulye's daughter. The authors use these scenarios to reflect on how they perceive maternal influence in their respective cultures and convey personal reservations about it. Through the portrayal of mothers in their texts, the authors provide a realistic view of the social and cultural environment of the story and how it shapes the narrative as mothers are closely connected to the society's social and cultural fabric.