A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel García Márquez is a mystical short story. Many aspects of the story include a contrast between the complexity of the natural and the supernatural. The angel came to help Pelayo and Elisenda because their child was very sick. The couple quickly took advantage of the angel and used him to their own advantage. They put him in a cage and they charged admission to view him. Pelayo and Elisenda were ecstatic with all of their money and they even bought themselves a larger home. It was disappointing to me that they were not grateful for the angel's help. At the end, when the angel leaves them, Elisenda says that he was, "no longer an annoyance in her life but an imaginary dot on the horizon of the sea." This shows she and her husband did not really appreciate having the angel around and all the good he brought to them.
3 Questions:
1) Is Gabriel García Márquez making a comment on human nature and how many people do not appreciate kind acts towards them?
2) Why did Pelayo and Elisenda react so selfishly toward the angel?
3) Why was the angel characterized as an old man with enormous wings rather than a more mystical being?
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