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Summary and Study Guide: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

Gabriel García Márquez’s short story, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings, is a defining example of magical realism. It challenges readers to consider how humanity reacts to the divine and the inexplicable when they appear in a mundane setting.

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Plot Summary: An Unexpected Visitor

The story begins during a heavy rainstorm when Pelayo and Elisenda find an elderly man with massive, filthy wings face-down in the mud of their courtyard. Though they are initially frightened, a neighbor suggests the man is an angel who came for their sick child. Instead of treating him with reverence, they lock him in a chicken coop. As news spreads, the townspeople flock to see him, treating the mysterious figure like a circus attraction. Even Father Gonzaga, the local priest, views the man with suspicion because he doesn't speak Latin or fit the church's traditional image of an angel.

The Arrival of the Spider Woman

Public interest eventually shifts away from the old man when a new marvel arrives in town: a woman who was transformed into a giant spider for disobeying her parents. Unlike the silent and enigmatic old man, the spider woman provides clear moral lessons and answers questions, making her more appealing to the fickle crowd. Pelayo and Elisenda, however, have become wealthy from the admission fees they charged to see the old man. They build a large house and live comfortably while the 'angel' continues to live in the dilapidated coop, neglected and ignored by the community.

Major Themes and Magical Realism

The story highlights the theme of human cruelty and the tendency to commodify the supernatural. Rather than being transformed by a miracle, the characters remain stuck in their petty, materialistic lives. Magical realism is used here to blend the extraordinary—a winged man—with the gritty details of poverty and disease. The story also critiques organized religion through Father Gonzaga, who is more concerned with bureaucratic rules and dogma than with the actual presence of a miracle in his midst.

Study Tips for Essays and Discussions

When writing an essay on this story, focus on the contrast between the Old Man and the Spider Woman. Ask yourself why the townspeople preferred the latter; it often comes down to the human desire for easy answers over complex mysteries. For a discussion on symbolism, consider the wings as a symbol of both freedom and burden. Track the transition of Elisenda’s perspective from fear to annoyance, and finally to relief, as it reflects the human habit of becoming desensitized to wonder.

What is the main conflict in A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings?

The main conflict is between the supernatural presence of the winged man and the mundane, often cruel reactions of the townspeople who fail to understand or respect him.

Why does the priest doubt the man is an angel?

Father Gonzaga doubts the man's divinity because he looks too human (he is dirty and frail), he does not understand Latin, and he doesn't fit the majestic description of angels found in religious texts.

How does the story end?

After several years of neglect, the old man’s feathers grow back. He manages to take flight and disappears over the horizon, leaving Elisenda watching with a sense of relief that he is no longer an 'annoyance' in her life.

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