Chronicle Name Symbolism

Flora Miguel

"Flora" and "Flor" both suggest the words flower, flowering, or bloom—each appropriate since Flora is Santiago's intended bride and Divina is described as a "blooming" adolescent. Both women are aligned with life/fertility/sensuality. The flower symbolism is enhanced by the narrator's description of Santiago's sexual reputation: he was known as a "sparrow hawk" who "went about...nipping the bud of any wayward virgin..." (90).

Pedro Vicario

"Pedro" means "stone" (Greek, Spanish, Portuguese). This name seems particularly apt since Pedro is, at least initially, the more militant twin and is described as having a "barrack-room soul" after returning from service with the police patrol. He is the twin to first suggest killing Santiago. Interestingly, it is a variant of the name "Peter"; in Greek, "Petros" means "rock." Peter was one of the twelve apostles and Jesus said of him, "Upon this Rock, I will build my church." Peter is considered to have been the first Pope and cofounder of the Christian Church with Paul.

Plácida Linero

"Placida" suggests "calm, placid"—appropriate, as she is one of the only ones unaware of the murder plot and calmly/unknowingly bars the door from the re-entry that may have saved him.

Clotilde Armenta

Clotilde means "famous in battle," "famous warrior," or "renowned battle," all of which seem appropriate to Clotilde's role in trying to prevent Santiago's death. Armenta is also derived from Latin and means "herd," as applied to animals and places and persons involved with them. Clotilde stands out as an individual amidst a "herd" of people who do nothing to warn Santiago.

Cristo Bedoya

Cristo = Old Greek for "bearing Christ" or "followers of the Christ, or the anointed one," and also means "Useful; of service" - Cristo is, indeed, the follower of Santiago, acting as Santiago's right-hand man, and Santiago is, in some ways, characterized as Christ-like.

Luisa Santiaga

Luisa Santiaga is Santiago Nasar's namesake and godmother; in real life, Luisa Santiaga is also the name of Gabriel García Márquez's mother.

María Alejandrina Cervantes

Maria is derived from Mary, meaning "sea of bitterness"," "sea of sorrow", or "star of the sea" - Maria is indeed linked to bitterness in the idea of illusory love, but she also appears as sort of a perversion of the Virgin Mary, worshiped for her sexuality instead of immaculate nature.

Pura Vicario

Means "Pure" (Spanish) - She stands for purity and demands it (albeit savagely) from Angela. She is even described as looking "like a nun" (31).

Mercedes Barcha

Mercedes is the wife of the novella's narrator; in reality, Mercedes Barcha is also the name of García Márquez's wife. In the novella, the narrator proposes to Mercedes in the midst of the wedding revelries when she still has 14 years of school left; in reality, Marquez similarly proposed to his wife when she was just 13.

Pablo Vicario

Pablo is a Spanish variant of Paul, from the Latin "Paulus" meaning "small" or "little." This seems appropriate since Pablo is, at least initially, the twin with the 'weaker' disposition, and appears a follower of Pedro. Interestingly, Paul was also one of the great missionary apostles, authored several New Testament epistles, and is regarded as a cofounder of the Christian Church.

Poncio Vicario

Pontius Pilate from New Testament = Poncio Pilato; he was Prefect of the Roman province of Judea from AD 26-36. He is best known as the judge at Jesus' trial and the man who (reluctantly) authorized Christ's crucifixion - does Poncio Vicario in some ways "authorize" Santiago's?

Prudencia Cotes

Prudencia is linked to 'prudence,' meaning 'caution' or 'discretion'; she, ironically, is the one who says that if her fiancée Pablo didn't do " 'what a man should do'" she would not have married him—i.e. her discretion doesn't match readers probably discretion.

Santiago Nasar

Santiago = "San Diego," meaning "Saint James," patron saint of Spain; James = apostle & martyr. He and his brother John were by the seashore when called by Jesus to follow him. The brothers are referred to as "Brothers of Martyrdom" by Mark. James was executed/beheaded by sword by Agrippa I , a King of the Jews, in the year 44. Santiago also named for godmother, Luisa Santiaga. Nasar = a Semitic name suggesting a mid-eastern origin

Angela Vicario

Angela means "messenger of God" or "angel"; Vicaria is Italian for "vicarage"," or the residence of a rector or cleric or clergyperson ; similar to "vicar," a Roman Catholic priest.

Bayardo San Román

Bayardo = "bay horse' or "reddish brown hair"; San Roman = a habitational name from any of the numerous places for a local church or shrine dedicated to St. Roman.