Power
What gives Aurelio Escovar power over the mayor?
His control over the mayor’s physical pain
What does Aurelio’s calm demeanor reveal?
It shows emotional control
What is the central irony?
A man who holds power is helpless before a man with no political authority.
What does pulling the tooth without anesthesia symbolize?
Moral justice
Justice, revenge, or something else?
It is moral justice.
How does the toothache symbolize political vulnerability?
the mayor’s internal guilt
What does the dentist’s refusal suggest about his ethics?
He believes justice must be earned
Why is the mayor begging ironic?
He once denied mercy to others
How is the dentist’s office a courtroom?
Aurelio acts as judge, the mayor as defendant, and the procedure as punishment for past crimes.
How is the line between vengeance and justice blurred?
The dentist’s personal anger aligns with a broader moral judgment, making the act both personal and political.
Why is refusing anesthesia a political statement?
It forces the mayor to physically experience suffering like the community did
What does the mayor’s shifting tone reveal?
His authority is fake
Why does the detached tone increase tension?
The lack of emotional language makes the act feel morally wrong
Why is “our twenty dead men” significant?
It shifts the conflict from personal revenge to collective memory.
How does the story suggest justice exists outside government?
Moral authority rests with individuals who refuse to comply with corrupt systems.
How does García Márquez show that fear is the foundation of the mayor’s power?
The mayor loses authority
Why does Aurelio continue the procedure despite knowing the pain it will cause?
He believes the mayor must face the consequences of his actions
How does situational irony shape the reader’s perception of justice in the story?
The powerful become powerless
What does the rusted dental equipment symbolize?
Decay and neglect.
Why does Aurelio reject personal revenge in favor of controlled punishment?
He seeks accountability
Why is the dentist’s refusal to be intimidated significant?
It represents resistance from corruption
How does the mayor’s behavior reveal his hypocrisy?
He wants compassion from dentist while not having any when he ordered executions.
Why does the lack of emotional outburst make the punishment more effective?
The calm delivery emphasizes moral certainty rather than rage or revenge.
How does the act of sitting in the dentist’s chair invert traditional power dynamics?
The mayor becomes physically and symbolically stripped of authority.
How does the story complicate the idea of moral righteousness?
It shows that justice can involve cruelty.