Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” presents a seemingly simple story filled with profound themes and captivating imagery. This guide delves into the intricacies of the short story, exploring its plot, context, symbolism, and offering questions for further study and discussion. This exploration allows for a deeper understanding of Marquez’s masterful use of magical realism and its impact on the reader.
After a relentless three-day rain, Pelayo and Elisenda stumble upon an extraordinary discovery: an old man with enormous wings, struggling in the mud. His “huge buzzard wings, dirty and half-plucked, were forever entangled in the mud,” immediately sparking questions of his origin and nature. The couple, unsure of what to make of this strange being, confine him to their chicken coop. Their consultations with a wise neighbor woman and Father Gonzaga, the local parish priest, only fuel the growing curiosity and speculation among the townspeople. News of the winged man spreads like wildfire, attracting a throng of onlookers eager to witness the spectacle.
Like many of Garcia Marquez’s works, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” exemplifies magical realism. This genre seamlessly blends fantastical elements with everyday reality, creating a narrative that is both familiar and extraordinary. As a prominent figure in Latin American literature, Garcia Marquez, along with writers like Alejo Carpentier, masterfully weaves together the mundane and the magical, challenging readers to question the boundaries of perception and belief.
Plot Summary: A Fleeting Miracle
Pelayo and Elisenda exploit the “angel’s” novelty, charging five cents for admission to see him. However, his fame proves ephemeral. When the angel fails to provide miraculous cures to the ailing visitors, the crowd’s attention shifts to a new spectacle: “a frightful tarantula the size of a ram and with the head of a sad maiden.”
With the crowds gone, Pelayo and Elisenda use their earnings to build a comfortable house. The old man with wings remains on their property, a constant yet increasingly frail presence. Despite his weakening condition, he becomes an integral part of their lives, coexisting with them and their son.
One winter, after a period of illness, the angel begins to regenerate, growing new feathers. One morning, he attempts to fly. From her kitchen window, Elisenda observes his clumsy efforts to take to the air, watching as he finally disappears over the horizon, soaring away into the vast expanse of the sea.
Background and Context: Fantasy and Reality Intertwined
While “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” may not be explicitly rooted in 20th-century history or politics like some of Garcia Marquez’s other works, such as “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” it skillfully blends fantasy and reality. The story presents a world where the extraordinary can coexist with the ordinary, challenging our preconceived notions of what is possible.
For instance, the story begins with an improbable event: a deluge of crabs. Yet, crabs are a common sight in a seaside town like Pelayo and Elisenda’s. The townspeople’s reactions to the angel—a mixture of excitement, superstition, and eventual disillusionment—feel authentic and believable.
Garcia Marquez’s distinctive narrative voice, which describes even the most bizarre events with a straightforward, believable tone, is central to the story’s impact. This storytelling style was influenced by his grandmother and by writers like Franz Kafka and Jorge Luis Borges, who also created fictional worlds where shocking and surreal occurrences are commonplace.
Although concise, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” paints a detailed psychological portrait of a community. The shifting opinions of the townspeople and the pronouncements of figures like Father Gonzaga are presented succinctly and effectively.
Elements like the persistent stench surrounding the angel provide a sense of continuity amidst change. These constants highlight the significant shifts in Pelayo and Elisenda’s financial circumstances and family life.
The Symbolism of the Angel: Fallen Faith or Profound Power?
Garcia Marquez consistently emphasizes the unflattering aspects of the angel’s appearance throughout the story. He describes the parasites infesting his wings, the food scraps thrown at him, and his awkward, vulture-like attempts at flight.
Despite these shortcomings, the angel remains a potent and evocative figure, capable of inspiring hope and wonder. He may symbolize a decline in faith, or perhaps a sign that even imperfect expressions of religion possess inherent power. Alternatively, this unconventional angel could represent Garcia Marquez’s exploration of the gap between legend and reality. The story prompts contemplation on belief, expectation, and the human tendency to seek meaning in the inexplicable.
Questions for Study and Discussion: Unpacking the Layers of Meaning
- Is “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” a definitive example of magical realism? Does it deviate from the genre’s conventions in any way? Could alternative classifications, such as fable or allegory, be considered?
- What religious message, if any, does the story convey? Does it suggest that religion is obsolete or discredited in the modern era, or that faith continues to exist in unexpected forms?
- How would you characterize the community depicted in Garcia Marquez’s story? Are there ambiguous or contradictory aspects to the townspeople’s attitudes and behaviors?
- Why do you think Garcia Marquez employs such vivid and often unpleasant descriptions in the story? How do these descriptions shape your perception of the townspeople and the angel?
