Writing based on the Bible: Rereading García Márquez's Eréndira

Abstract

La increíble y triste historia de la Cándida Eréndira y de su abuela desalmada (1972) is an important middle grade novel by Marquez, and the biblical metaphors contained in the text have been neglected by critics. By employing Frye’s biblical archetypal criticism, a comparative analysis of the novel and the Bible reveals that Márquez’s text is imbued with central imagery from the metaphorical paradise of the Garden of Eden and the demonic imagery of Sodom and Gomorrah that adheres to the biblical framework of sin-punishment-redemption, which is fundamental to its structure. From the perspectives of imagery, characterization, narrative structure, and theme, the Bible emerges as the primary symbolic source and foundation of the text. Thus, Eréndira can be viewed as an allegory that employs the Bible as a metaphorical model. This analysis reveals the deeper thematic concerns and narrative artistry in Márquez’s work, highlighting the complex interplay between sin and redemption.