Philippine Christian University

College of Arts, Sciences & Social Work

Department of English & Mass Communication

NAME:
DATE:

BARRAQUIAS, BETLEE IAN JR T.

31 MAY 2016

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SHORT STORY ANALYSIS FORM

TITLE: Death Constant Beyond Love
AUTHOR: GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
CULTURE, TRADITION AND
PEOPLE

The story introduced Rosal del

Virrey as a poor and dry costal town
infested with mischiefs such as
smuggling.

i.

ii.
The platforms of Senator Sanchez
during his speech reflects the towns
woes in their struggle with nature.

The story also explicitly identified a

custom where the senator must walk
through the streets after his speech.

The story reflects corruption in the

society as described in the first
paragraphs illusory village which
by night was the furtive wharf for
smugglers...

CHARACTERS (with description):

The story also reflects corruption in

the family and the degree of regard
to women as Nelson Farina used his
daughter as a means to an end.

World Literature
Summer 2016

iii.

Senator Onesimo Sanchez

o Corrupt Politician
o Lonely; Solitary
o Generous
Nelson Farina
o Fugitive escaped from Devils
Island
o Clever
Laura Farina
o Young and Beautiful
o Daughter of Nelson Farina
o Obedient

SETTING:
Place:
Rosal del Virrey a coastal town located in a
desert, barren, and dry place; poor and dusty.
Climate: Very Warm

Philippine Christian University

College of Arts, Sciences & Social Work
Department of English & Mass Communication

SUMMARY: (You may use additional sheet if needed).

The story revolves around the themes of death, corruption, and solitude. The story started
with Senator Onesimo Sanchez. The Senator was diagnosed with a terminal illness where he only
had six months and eleven days to live where he kept his condition to himself. Despite knowing the
limited time he had, he decides that he should still pursue for re-election as he normally would. He
travelled to Rosal del Virrey to give his speech. He made promises that he will provide a better life
to the people if he was re-elected. He used theatrics to demonstrate his plans and platforms to further
persuade voters to vote him.
After his speech, the senator took a walk through the streets of the town. He came across a
man named Nelson Farina who was an escaped from Devils Island. Nelson had met Senator
Sanchez before and asked of him a fake identification card to place him beyond the reach of the law.
However, Senator Sanchez refused. Nelson never gave up and repeatedly asked Senator Nelson for
several years when he had the chance. This time, when Senator Sanchez came across Nelson Farina
the Senator saw Nelsons daughter, Laura as she came out into the yard. The senator was in awe.
Later that night, Nelson Farina, noting that his daughter captured the eye of the senator, he
sent Laura to the senator to fix his legal troubles. The Senator welcomed Laura into his house with
the intent of having an affair with her. To his dismay, he discovered that Laura was wearing a
chastity belt where the key would only be granted if Senator Sanchez promises and agrees to
Nelsons request. The Senator finally agrees, but when Laura was about to leave and get the key, the
Senator made her stay and to just lay down with him out of his loneliness.
Six months and eleven days later, the Senator died and at the same place and in the same
position only without Laura by his side. He died debased and repudiated because of the public
scandal with Laura Farina.

CONFLICT:
Senator Onesimo Sanchez was diagnosed with a terminal illness that allowed him live
only for six months and eleven days, where as a result, he became lonely.
Nelson Farina asked Senator Sanchez for a fake identification card to escape the law.
RISING ACTION:
Senator Sanchez pursued his re-election despite his condition.
Senator Sanchez came across Nelson Farina and met his daughter, Laura.
o Senator Sanchez was attracted to Laura Farina.
Nelson Farina sent his daughter to Senator Sanchez to figure out his legal problems.
World Literature
Summer 2016

Philippine Christian University

College of Arts, Sciences & Social Work
Department of English & Mass Communication

CLIMAX:
Senator Sanchez welcomed Laura Farina to his home and had an affair with her. However, Laura
Farina was wearing a chastity belt where the key would only be granted if Senator Sanchez promises
that he will work on Nelsons fake identification card. Senator Sanchez finally agrees.

FALLING ACTION:
When Laura was about to leave and get the key, Senator Sanchez asked her to forget
about the key and to just lay with him.
RESOLUTION:
Senator Sanchez died debased and repudiated concerning his liaison with Laura Farina.
He died a lonely death at the same place, in the same position, only without Laura.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR AND HIS/HER TIME:
Gabriel Garcia Marquez (6 March 1927 14 April 2014) was born in Aracataca,
Columbia. He was a Columbian novelist, short-story writer, screen writer, and journalist. He was
known as Gabo or Gabito throughout Latin America. He studied law and journalism in the
Universidad Nacional de Columbia and the Universidad de Cartagena. He also received many
literary awards including the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1982. He was a central figure of
magical realism in Latin-American Literature (Echevarria, 2015; Internet Movie Database,
n.d.).
Gabriel Marquez was mainly raised by his grandfather who was a retired army Colonel.
He regarded his grandfather as his umbilical cord with history and reality. His grandfather had
a significant impact on Gabriel Marquez view about politics and ideological outlooks. Marquez
grandmother was also equally involved in his upbringing. His grandmother told him of stories of
magic and parent relationship adventures in a deadpan style which was the source of inspiration
of Marquez One Hundred Years of Solitude (FamousAuthrors.org, 2012).
Gabriel Garcia Marquez started his career as a journalist while studying law at the
Universidad Nacional de Columbia. During this time, he became an active member of a group of
journalists and writers known as the Barranquilla Group. He worked with inspirational figures
such as Ramon Vinyes, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner. He was exposed to their
techniques, historical themes, use of rural locations, and other literary techniques. The
environment of Barraqnuilla provided him a unique perspective on Carribean culture (Bell, 1993,
Echevarria, 2015).
World Literature
Summer 2016

Philippine Christian University

College of Arts, Sciences & Social Work
Department of English & Mass Communication

REFERENCES
Bell, M. (1993). Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Solitude and solidarity.
Echevarria, R. G. (2015). Britannica. Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Retrieved on May 31, 2016, from
http://www.britannica.com/biography/Gabriel-Garcia-Marquez
FamousAuthors.org. (2012). Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Retrieved on May 31, 2016, from
http://www.famousauthors.org/gabriel-garcia-marquez
Internet Movie Database. (n.d.). Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Retrieved on May 31, 2016, from
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0305781/

World Literature
Summer 2016