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Chapter 5

“She told us about the miracle but not the saint”. (59) These words were uttered by the fiends of Angela Vicario in a brief to the investigating magistrate. The issue they were referring to regarded the circumstances that led to Angela’s loss of virginity to Santiago Nasar. Angela did not bulge on her insistence that it was Santiago who deflowered her, despite the fact that she did not name the time or place where the event took place. As such, she could not prove that it was Santiago who had committed the act. This leads to the question whether Santiago was innocent or guilty, and whether his death was warranted for.

Santiago’s participation in the wedding does not show any guilt or remorse. He was actively engaged in the wedding, which shows that he might have been innocent. Furthermore, when Santiago was notified by that he was going to be killed, his reaction displayed innocence rather than panic. If he had been guilty, he would have run away so as to prevent his murder, but he continued with his planned activities. Another reason which shows that an innocent man was implicated is his conversation with Nahir Miguel. When asked whether he knew that the Vicario brothers were planning to kill him, he was bewildered and he became pale. His reaction can only mean that he could not think of a reason that would prompt the Vicario brothers to kill him. It is likely that Santiago Nasar died without knowing the cause of his death. Although he had been notified of the plan to kill him, he was not told of the reason. If he had known why the Vicario brothers were plotting his murder, he would have been in a better position to address the issue and proclaim his innocence or admit his guilt. However, Santiago Nasar’s death remains a mystery, as it is unknown whether he died due his actions, or whether he did not deserve the honor killing. The only person who can solve the mystery is Angela Vicario, and the only answer she could provide was that Santiago was the perpetrator.