Imagery in "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings"

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews the short story "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez about a poor couple who live with their son in a poor South American village, who come upon an angel lying on the ground. It shows how the plot is unique because it is grounded in reality yet Marquez also introduces magical realism as a form of sublimity. It examines how Marquez's imagery comes into play because it is key to how he wishes the plot of unfolded. It considers how he deliberately makes the angel ungainly and ugly so that he can justify behavior of the villagers towards the angel and how Marquez presents to the reader a magical journey with overtones based in realism that everyone can identify with. Parallels are made between the novel and magical nature reminiscent of Franz Kafka's short story, "The Metamorphosis."

From the Paper:

"The angel also does nothing angelic. He behaves almost like an old man; crotchety, senile and ill. But in the grand scheme his fortuitous discovery by Pelayo and Elisanda near their home brings them fortunes. The angel takes nothing. He however, gives them riches beyond their earning capacities. At the end, the family reaches a level of comfort with the angel. After initial misgivings, they trust their child with him. When the angel finally leaves, one does not know if they miss him. The story ends as it begins. The angel enters a slice of life of the village and the family of Pelayo and leaves it a little richer but without any other significant change."

More papers on Imagery in "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings":

• Book Review # 93678 : "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"
• Analytical Essay # 55197 : "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" and Prevalent Themes"
• Analytical Essay # 23210 : "Different Reviews of "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

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