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V. A Court of Wings and Ruin is NEW ADULT/EROTICA but Goodreads editors won't tell you to include it in the choice awards
Considering the misogynism of the author I think he was ready to doubt that a rape victim was telling the truth. Abuse victims don't come forward because they know that nobody will believe them. Garcia Marques immediatly assumed that she was trying to cover a lover. Because in rape-culture a woman is always to blame
Remember that Santiago was ready to rape the Divina Flore the little black UNDERAGE girl that lived in his house like his father did before with Divina's mother. Remember that he got drunk a lot and that he liked to use women. Wouldn't a man like that rape Angela during a party in their teens and then forget about it because he was so drunk?
Just as Garcia Marques is predisposed to doubt women I'm predisposed to believe rape victims.
Remember that Santiago was ready to rape the Divina Flore the little black UNDERAGE girl that lived in his house like his father did before with Divina's mother. Remember that he got drunk a lot and that he liked to use women. Wouldn't a man like that rape Angela during a party in their teens and then forget about it because he was so drunk?
Just as Garcia Marques is predisposed to doubt women I'm predisposed to believe rape victims.
Dsafak
I want to maintain that rape-culture is utterly disgusting and no victim of rape should ever feel ashamed or intimidated to come forward to tell the truth, and under no condition should they be subject to judgement and degradation from the society. Moreover, there may be the possibility that Marquez, unconsciously, maintained the social prejudices regarding rape as he was nothing more than the product of the society he was living in.
However, I do not think Marquez was consciosly and intentionally a mysogynist, and claiming that he blamed or intentionally created a story in which the rape theme is vague and bleak so the woman should be blamed by the reader is too much of a stretch and big accusation. It is, unfortunately, nothing but a speculation.
On the other hand, we are told that Santiago was an offender in many cases as we see from his harrassments of Divina Flor. So, at first glance, is there a possibility that he had sexual relationship with Angela (can we really call it rape, I really don't remember if it was consensual or not)? Yes, as he also liked to have sexual relationships with the women living in the mountains around the city and Maria Alejandrina Cervantes. Therefore, he was quite "liberal" when it came to sexual relations.
However, from his behaviour, it is also emphasized that he was not nervous or anxious after Angela's wedding with a man who "has the means" and quite powerful, both socially and financially (which is very important in that society, apparently). If Santiago really had sexual relationship with Angela, then wouldn't he be more anxious because of the possibility that this "forbidden love" might cause a huge problem and would eventually lead to his demise? There was no turning back after it was understood that Angela was not a virgin, which was a huge offense in the past. Nevertheless, we never see Santiago feeling any type of guilt or worry. Moreover, towards the end of the book, it is also highlighted that he could not comprehend what was happening or why it was happening.
So, as it is pointed out before me, everybody in the town believes in Angela. My opinion is that Angela might have been "deflowered" by Santiago. But it was intentional that these parts are left vague or questionable. We might even argue that the story was a criticism regarding these issues such as the obsession with virginity, a non-established law system, tribal laws that destroy many lives and families or the ignorance of the public in rural areas. (less)
However, I do not think Marquez was consciosly and intentionally a mysogynist, and claiming that he blamed or intentionally created a story in which the rape theme is vague and bleak so the woman should be blamed by the reader is too much of a stretch and big accusation. It is, unfortunately, nothing but a speculation.
On the other hand, we are told that Santiago was an offender in many cases as we see from his harrassments of Divina Flor. So, at first glance, is there a possibility that he had sexual relationship with Angela (can we really call it rape, I really don't remember if it was consensual or not)? Yes, as he also liked to have sexual relationships with the women living in the mountains around the city and Maria Alejandrina Cervantes. Therefore, he was quite "liberal" when it came to sexual relations.
However, from his behaviour, it is also emphasized that he was not nervous or anxious after Angela's wedding with a man who "has the means" and quite powerful, both socially and financially (which is very important in that society, apparently). If Santiago really had sexual relationship with Angela, then wouldn't he be more anxious because of the possibility that this "forbidden love" might cause a huge problem and would eventually lead to his demise? There was no turning back after it was understood that Angela was not a virgin, which was a huge offense in the past. Nevertheless, we never see Santiago feeling any type of guilt or worry. Moreover, towards the end of the book, it is also highlighted that he could not comprehend what was happening or why it was happening.
So, as it is pointed out before me, everybody in the town believes in Angela. My opinion is that Angela might have been "deflowered" by Santiago. But it was intentional that these parts are left vague or questionable. We might even argue that the story was a criticism regarding these issues such as the obsession with virginity, a non-established law system, tribal laws that destroy many lives and families or the ignorance of the public in rural areas. (less)
Don
I read the five answers and I'm left gasping. I never saw it as a rape (and still don't). It's not a report, it's a novel and it seems to me its literary aim is to hold the village up to scrutiny and leave the question open as to whether Santiago is even the guilty party. Personally, I concluded that he wasn't. Coming from "catholic" Ireland I can assure you that there is no need for a rape in order to heap ignominy and disgrace on the woman and excuse the man. I'm satisfied that GGM was exposing an entirely different moral issue than rape; the crime of silence.
Michelle Medeiros
I think like in real life, we see a lot of sides of the story and it gets blurry, but personally, I think Santiago did rape her. Couldn't sympathize with the guy..
MJ RU1Z
First of all, this type of novel doesn't narrate the thoughts of the author, but rather describes a real society.
There are a million possibilities, but for me Santiago Nasar was innocent. I never thought of rape. I think Angela Vicario just wanted to get rid of a husband whom she was forced to marry and she didn't know or love him.
There are a million possibilities, but for me Santiago Nasar was innocent. I never thought of rape. I think Angela Vicario just wanted to get rid of a husband whom she was forced to marry and she didn't know or love him.
Amin H
I think she's bluffing. Just a hunch. Can't really tell if Divina Flor lied at the end or she's just imagining things, but I got an idea that some people in the town wants Santiago to die.
Dave Harmon
its ambiguous. my personal theory is that it wasnt Santiago, it was one or both of her brothers. thats why theyre so quick to kill the accused, act so defensive, and the author mentions they have an STD, as if it was a curse for sexual misbehavior
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