The False Heroism of the Macrocriminal Character in News of a Kidnapping (1996)

Abstract

In this article, we seek to clarify the resemantization of the concept of hero, based on the incorporation of Pablo Escobar, which is explicit in the literary work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, News of a Kidnapping (1996). Considering this premise, it is notable that the text presents a duality in the construction of this character, either due to his criminal configuration, as well as his humanitarian side, since he not only resorted to criminal practices, such as homicide, blackmail, extortion, etc., but his deliberate support for the communes and his affiliation to the Catholic religion was also evident. To examine this dichotomy carefully, the methodology of Cultural Studies will be necessary, which on this occasion will consist of the interdisciplinary epistemological consolidation of Literature and sociology, whose purpose is to interpret and analyze some passages of the book in question.