Clothilde+Armenta


 * ** Character's Name: ** || Clothilde Armenta ||
 * ** Role in Novel: ** || Clothilde is the wife of Don Rogelio de la Flor and the proprietress of the milk store, which the Vicario brothers stay in while they wait to kill Santiago Nasar. While she is concerned for the safety of Santiago Nasar, she is also aware that the brothers do not truly wish to kill him. Clothilde’s statements in the novel illustrate the reluctance of the townsfolk to stop the murder of Santiago Nasar, as well as the powerlessness of women [she realizes “how alone...women are in the world” (63)]. ||
 * ** Significance of Name: ** || Clothilde’s statements and presence in //Chronicle of a Death Foretold// establish the reluctance or inability of the townsfolk to stop the Vicario brothers from killing Santiago Nasar. She also suggests how powerless women are. Clothilde’s first name has two similar meanings, one of Germanic origin and the other of French origin. The Germanic name of “Clothilde” means “famous battle.” It has an alternate meaning of French origin, meaning “loud battle.” Clothilde’s last name, “Armenta”, is a Spanish surname of Latin origins, meaning “herd” or “herder”.

While the Germanic meaning is more commonly recognized, it is also the one most related to Clothilde’s role in the novel. The diffusion of responsibility that the townspeople partake in, in regards to Santiago’s murder, is one that Clothilde’s interaction with townsfolk illustrates. Both her husband and the chief of police seem not to care or to believe that the Vicario brothers are capable of murder, while all the people she tells to warn Santiago do not seem able to actually warn him in time for his rescue. This diffusion of responsibility is a “famous battle” of sorts, a well-known social psychological phenomenon known as “the bystander effect,” where onlookers will not help a victim so long as they know there are other onlookers around. While not as distinctly related, the French meaning of “loud battle” could also be considered significant – while Clothilde does not try and stop the Vicario brothers forcefully, she does try to help Santiago by warning the other townspeople. Clothilde’s awareness of how powerless women are is certainly a famous battle as well, considering how little women can do in the face of local customs (Angela Vicario’s assault after being “returned” from her wedding bed) – unfortunately, it is not so much a “loud battle”, seeing as Clothilde herself is unable to do anything about the issue, and simply states her awareness of it.

The last name “Armenta”, meaning “herd” or “herder”, has a fair correlation to Clothilde’s place in the novel. Clothilde tries to herd the townspeople into caring about Santiago Nasar’s murder, and potentially stopping it. Unfortunately, she herself is following the uncaring herd, and does not take forceful action to try and stop the murder. ||