A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings
"A Very old Man with Enormous Wings" is a good example of Magical Realism. This story has all the characteristics of Magical Realism, such as having one fantastic element while being reality based, having a deeper meaning, and having no need to justify or explain events or human actions. Gabriel Garcia Marquez does a perfect job of transforming the common and everyday into something very special and magical.I believe that "A very old man with enormous wings" is the angel, who represents the mysterious and unfamiliar elements in life. The angel is not just something supernatural, but also something foreign- someone who stands out in the crowd as being different from the rest of the society. Here, Marquez shows us the society's the fascination with things that are different and unique. When confronted with the unknown, the society shows rudeness and prejudice. Usually, the people are afraid of what they do not understand. Disgusted by a
The angel is viewed as a threat and a problem--no one speaks of awe, reverence and love, or even suggests acting with simple kindness toward the mysterious man with wingsTo me, it not only demonstrates the ignorance and the arrogance of the society, but it also reveals the people's lack of imagination and their fascination with "labels". Just as would we all if equally affected by isolation and ignorance in our own lives. ngel's outer appearance, they showed him no compassion. Instead, they community abuse and humiliate the angel along with Pelayo and Elisenda, who turn their house into the circus, and profit from the angel at his expense "With the money they saved they built a two-story mansion with balconies and gardens"(573). Something great and beautiful walked in their lives, but the primitive and narrow-minded society could not possibly accept the unfamiliar. Let us consider the possibility that this incredible mysterious being is the catalyst for the family's recovery from the destitution. Unfortunately, they dismissed the real miracle. Gonzaga states that the angel "has nothing about him measured up to the proud dignity of angels" (571) and cannot speak Latin, the language of God and therefore, was called an imposter and concluded that he must be the devil himself. They mistreat the old man because he does not meet the public's stereotypes for how a "normal" person should look and behave. Since their isolated culture breeds ignorance among them and their religion teaches them to be fearful and suspicious, the villagers are unable to by touched by the miracle of having one of God's own among them. Unfortunately, it also shows the cruelty of the human nature when confronted with the unknown and how superstitious ignorance and religious dogma can prevent the realization of true spirituality. It is in human nature to label everything tangible and if it is beyond people's comprehension, then people just simply dismiss it. Eventually, when the novelty wears off, the people loose the interest in angel, seeking for the new thrills and immediate gratification. Even the church, in the face of Father Gonzaga, does not treat him with respect as a messenger from God.
Common topics in this essay:
God Gonzaga,
Pelayo Elisenda,
Garcia Marquez,
Magical Realism,
Father Gonzaga,
Enormous Wings,
human nature,
angel pelayo elisenda,
confronted unknown,
enormous wings,
magical realism,
angel pelayo,
pelayo elisenda,
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Acceptance Essays
