Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" illustrates how mankind can be abusive and cruel to individuals who are perceived as different from the norm. As we analyze Marquez's life, it is possible to highlight specific instances in which Marquez might have experienced this similar abusiveness and cruelty within his life and the life of others. It is Marquez's intention to make individuals aware of the harm that is afflicted on others. He demonstrates how ridiculous people can act around those who are different from what society considers as normal.
             The "very old man" is described as a different and unique creature. Marquez describes this character as "dressed like a rag-picker" (361), "having a few faded hairs left on his bald skull and very few teeth in his mouth" (361), and with "huge buzzard wings, dirty and half-plucked" (361). The character's description is quite different from the norm. He is so unique that all of the characters who come in contact with the "very old man" "looked ... with mute stupor" (361) and for a very long time. All of this staring leads to the development of misunderstanding.
             Since the "very old man" is different, the other characters begin to become abusive and cruel. The abusive and cruelty begins when the "very old man" is "held captive" (361). He is locked up in a chicken coop. Soon thereafter, people from all over begin to visit the chicken coop to mortify and curiously see the "very old man". Two characters, Pelayo and Elisenda, abuse the "very old man" by charging people a fee to observe him. They basically make a profit off on individual who just happens to be different from the norm.
             The cruelty and abuse continues throughout the "very old man's" captivity. It seems that everyone who represents mankind is o
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