Non Chronological Time Analysis

In fiction, the use of chronological order is one of the most common methods in creating a storyline. It maintains the order of “past, present, and future” that most readers would relate to in reality. What if the plot was rearranged into non-chronological order? While it is not used as frequently, the technique of a non-chronological story still has its benefits. In the analysis of two pieces of literature, Chronicle of a Death Foretold and Perfume, this paper will review the effects of a non-chronological plot. Foremost, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Marquez, has the more prominent use of non-chronological order between the two works. The short story revolves around the homicide of a young man named Santiago in a small town in Colombia. The actual day of the murder is set in the mid-1900s, but Marquez chooses not to begin with this timeline. Instead, the novel starts off several years into the future, with the occurrence of the heinous crime already made known to the audience. By doing this, there are some immediate effects on the readers. The feeling of suspense that is usually associated with crime and mystery genres is diminished. Because Marquez decides to “spoil” the climax of the novel before it even begins, there is little possibility for the audience to build up enough …show more content…
Unlike Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Suskind decides to relay the events of his novel in the chronological sequence of life through his protagonist, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. Without this order, Perfume’s plot would become perplexing. Throughout the novel, Grenouille experiences a series of epiphanies that constantly change and develop his motives for his subsequent actions. Because these moments directly relate to the actions, they must be ordered chronologically with each other. Otherwise, the audience would be confused as to what causes Grenouille to act in his particular