Tuesday Siesta by Gabriel García Márquez
In Tuesday Siesta by Gabriel García Márquez we have the theme of determination, respect, social opinion, connection and control. Taken from his Collected Stories collection the story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Márquez may be exploring the theme of determination. Mrs Ayala has traveled some distance in order to see her son’s grave. Also while she is at the priest’s house she is determined to see him in order to get the keys of the cemetery. Despite the priest’s sister suggesting that Mrs Ayala should come back later. At no stage in the story does Mrs Ayala turn backwards. She is constantly moving forward which may be symbolically important as it suggests to the reader that the Mrs Ayala is determined. Regardless of people’s opinion of Carlos (as a thief) Mrs Ayala herself does not judge her son. It might also be important that there is no proof that Carlos is a thief. He has robbed nothing. The matter of him trying to enter the old woman’s house could be an innocent mistake. If anything the reader has to be open minded when it comes to Carlos. There is not enough evidence to suggest that Carlos was a thief.
The priest also appears to have judged Carlos and even goes as far as criticizing Mrs Ayala by suggesting that she should have kept Carlos on the right track. This may be important as one would expect a priest to be removed of opinion when it comes to an individual’s character. That a priest due to their beliefs would not judge a man (or woman) based on their actions. If anything the priest should be open minded and more intelligent about his consideration of Carlos. He like those in the town believes the old woman’s version of events. The title of the story is also interesting as one would expect everybody to be indoors for a siesta. However when those in the town realise that Mrs Ayala is with the priest they want to see her. In all likelihood to scorn her for the manner in which she brought up Carlos. This too could be important as just as the priest may have judged Carlos and Mrs Ayala those in the town likewise have an opinion on both. An opinion which may not necessarily be correct.
Mrs Ayala’s daughter is also an interesting character. She is told by her mother not to cry while they are in the town and she doesn’t cry. Similarly she doesn’t question anything her mother tells her. She is obedient to her mother’s advice and wishes. Which may leave some readers to suggest that Mrs Ayala is able to control her children. Despite what those in the town, including the priest, may think. Mrs Ayala cannot be held responsible for Carlos’ actions. Her own circumstances are dire and in all likelihood she has reared her children to respect others. Something that is noticeable when Mrs Ayala tells the priest she told Carlos to never rob another person’s food. This statement should not be taken literally. It is possible that Mrs Ayala simply meant for Carlos or any of her children not to rob another person. Which he may have never done. As mentioned there is no proof that Carlos is a thief. Despite Carlos’ death and the circumstances she finds herself under Mrs Ayala still has a strong connection with Carlos. Something that is clearer to the reader by the fact she travels to the town to see Carlos’ grave within a week of hearing about his death. Likewise there is a sense that Mrs Ayala’s daughter has a strong connection with her mother. She honours each request her mother makes of her.
It is also clear to the reader that Mrs Ayala does not shy away from the responsibilities she has as a mother. Even though there are people outside the priest’s home waiting to challenge her. Mrs Ayala is determined to go directly to Carlos’ grave. This may be important as not only does it suggest that Mrs Ayala is strong-minded but she also knows that she has to pay respects to Carlos. Regardless of what others might think about either Carlos or her. She will not allow other people’s judgement or perception of Carlos deter her from what she feels she must do. As mentioned previously throughout the story Mrs Ayala moves forward on all occasions. She does not allow anything or anybody to get in the way of what she feels she must do. Rather than taking on board the social opinion of others Mrs Ayala is driven to do what she thinks is the right thing for not only her but for Carlos too. The reader is also left to imagine how difficult Mrs Ayala’s journey might have been. Knowing that she was going to be confronted by hostilities she still nonetheless perseveres.
I am a great admirer of Marques, but I don’t seem to like this story in particular. The ending is a little exaggerated with the onlookers gathering in the heat of the day to see the mother of the deceased. No matter who Carlos was, he is now dead—he has paid in full for his “bad” in life. The onlookers could be there out of curiosity rather than to scold the mother, as indicated in this analyses. Or perhaps a mix of them, another might say. When one loses someone dear–particularly a mother losing her child–there is no way in any culture that someone would give a damn how many people are in the street… angry at it.
Whereas I do agree that this isn’t my favorite GGM work, I do have to disagree that people don’t notice while grieving whether people are judging their loved one harshly by, in this example, being in the street to watch the grieving mom visit a thief’s grave. Just take a peek at the internet comments nowadays when someone dies in any way other than of old age. People flock. People make awful comments. Having gone through it myself, I can assure you that people can be awful when there’s any kind of intrigue to a death. Not to mention the Patriot Guard having to protect military funerals nowadays from Westboro Baptist Church. They don’t even care what the person was like in life. Their agenda trumps all.
Wow. This is a stellar summary, but misses the mark on analysis. This story was considered one of his best works by Márquez himself. The key lies in realizing that this is magical realism. Where is the magic? It is my opinion that the thread to pull to pull on that unravels the whole story is that Márquez places such emphasis on the keys to the cemetery looking just like the keys of St Peter. Because they are the keys of St Peter. After that, its just a matter of asking the right questions.
Why does it get so hot? Either they’re entering into the heat of the day, or this is a trip to hell to rescue her son’s soul. Why does she tell her daughter not to eat or drink anything? Either because they’re extremely polite or because it didn’t work out well for Persephone when she ate a few pomegranate seeds while visiting Hades. Why do all the villagers gather around at the end of the story? Either because they want to leer at the mother of the thief or because they are all damned souls that sense the presence of the living. For that matter, how did they know anyone was visiting the village? Either someone peeked through the blinds and started to gossip, or, again, the souls of the damned feel a presence that doesn’t belong.
What makes this such an amazing story is that either possibility is perfectly plausible. One other key question to ask is why is there no resolution, no denouement? The answer (at least for me) is that giving the story a real ending would ruin the story’s perfect balance between the natural world and the magical, supernatural world. Once she steps out of the house with those keys in hand, either the crowd starts to taunt her for raising a thief and we know the world is real, or she has to fight her way through a mass of souls lost in purgatory to rescue the soul of her maligned, wayward son.
The last question you need to ask yourself, and the one that tips it for me into the supernatural interpretation, is how does the mother know her son died and where to find him? No one knew who he was, so no one could have sent word. His last whispered words were to call out for his mother. And she heard him. From a full day’s train ride away.
It’s an amazing story. Which ending do you believe? I believe she holds those keys out like a cross to keep the damned at bay. I believe goes to get her maligned and wrongly condemned son and brings him home to salvation.
Excellent analysis. You totally show the realism and the magical realism.