Analysis
Gabriel García Márquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" was published in 1968 and initially described as "A Tale for Children." The story begins with the town being presented as drab and devoid of ambition, with a palpable sense of sickness and decay. However, the arrival of the old man with wings shakes the town out of its stupor.
Márquez employs the technique of magical realism, seamlessly blending the fantastical with the realistic. By doing so, he challenges the notion of miracles as wholly extraordinary occurrences throughout the narrative. The old man's wings, though extraordinary in themselves, differ greatly from Pelayo and Elisenda’s anticipation of the man as a majestic and pure angelic being. Instead, they encounter an old man who appears too familiar and human, with dirty, worn-out wings.
The old man's inability to speak the townspeople's language magnifies their perception of him as an "other" from a foreign land. Interestingly, Márquez downplays the significance of the “angel's” potential to take the sick child to heaven, mirroring the characters' failure to recognize the profound impact the old man could have on the child's recovery. Instead of caring for the “angel” or perceiving him as a potential source of aid, Pelayo and Elisenda ill-treat him by imprisoning him in the chicken coop.
Father Gonzaga, who represents religious authority, proves to be utterly ineffective in comprehending the “angel's” significance. In fact, he inadvertently exacerbates the old man’s otherness by likening him to a mere circus act.
The allure of the “angel” becomes an all-encompassing spectacle for the townspeople. Greed takes hold of Elisenda as she sees an opportunity to profit from his presence. This, in turn, exposes the corruption that can infiltrate religious concepts when individuals seek personal gain. As the crowd grows larger, with people from far and wide seeking miracles from the “angel,” money continues to flow for Pelayo and Elisenda. Throughout this process, the townspeople only consider what they can gain from the “angel,” completely neglecting any consideration of what they can offer him.
Remarkably, despite the mistreatment he endures, the “angel” does not display any aggression toward the townspeople. He successfully embodies patience, an important concept in the Christian faith. In contrast, the townspeople, consumed by their own desires, expect entertainment and miracles from him, reflecting their own lack of patience and empathy.
Despite the initial attention he receives, the old man’s presence is fleeting. The townspeople quickly lose interest in him as their fear of the unknown is rekindled when he forcefully flaps his wings. The narrative then shifts to the tale of a young woman with a spider body who can communicate with the townspeople and recount the details of her terrifying state, making her more relatable.
Pelayo and Elisenda, now wealthy but lacking moral integrity, continue to prioritize self-indulgence over the well-being of the old man with wings. They neglect his hygiene, and their child learns to stop fearing him, mimicking the behavior of the townspeople.
Márquez suggests that even the knowledgeable and logical doctor, who arrives to treat the child when he is sick with chicken pox, is unable to decipher the old man's true nature. In fact, the doctor finds his physical characteristics to be quite ordinary, which leads to the puzzling question of why the townspeople couldn't show him any compassion. Paradoxically, the old man is both too human-like to be truly otherworldly and too otherworldly to be seen as deserving of empathy.
As his condition gradually improves, the old man begins to exhibit signs of using his energy for more than just survival. This suggests a forthcoming change in his circumstances. When he departs the town, Elisenda, too entrenched in her own perspective, is unmoved by the incredible sight of the old man taking flight. Her narrow perception of the world prevents her from appreciating his significance, as she is only relieved to be rid of the inconvenience she believes he was causing her.
Ultimately, the lack of growth experienced by the townspeople throughout the story reveals to the reader how little he means to the story’s characters. Despite fulfilling his purpose (if his task was indeed to save the child), the old man leaves the town having received nothing in return, while the townspeople resume their day-to-day lives unchanged by the encounter. The story serves as an exploration of human nature, highlighting the inability of individuals to see beyond their own desires and the superficiality of their attention and actions.
