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SF
To
MAM BAILA
Writer
Introduction
to Story
Character
Analysis
Theme
Analysis
Gabriel García Márquez
García Márquez was a "committed leftist" throughout his life, adhering to socialist beliefs.
In 1991 he published Changing the History of Africa, an admiring study of Cuban activities
in the Angolan Civil War and the larger South African Border War. García Márquez's
political and ideological views were shaped by his grandfather's stories.
Literary Movements – Latin
American Boom
Inclusion of
fantastic or
mythical
elements into
seemingly The fantastic
realistic fiction elements may
be intrinsically
plausible but
are never
explained
Uses symbols
and imagery
extensively
Introduction to
the Story
Plot Summary
The story begins after three days of rain. Pelayo comes back from throwing the crabs into the
sea, he sees a very dirty old man with wings laying face down in mud. A neighbor informs them
that the man is an angel. The following day, the entire town knows about the man with wings
who is said to be an angel. Pelayo decides to chain up the man and keep him in the chicken
coop.
Ironic
Freedom Portrayal of Ignorance
Angel
Character Analysis
Characters List
The characters in the story are largely ironic as they represent different sides of the same story.
The following are the notable characters from the story; the old man, Pelayo & Elisenda, the
neighbor, father Gonzaga, the Church, the crowd and the spider-woman.
Characters Analysis
The Old Man
Filthy and bedraggled, the old man speaks a foreign language that no one can understand.
His wings and unintelligible language prompts some people to believe that he’s a fallen
angel and the church to believe he’s a Norwegian, even though he seems oblivious to
nearly everything that happens around him.
Characters Analysis
Pelayo
Pelayo is an ordinary villager, poor but grudgingly willing to shelter the winged old man in
his chicken coop. Pelayo guards the old man from harm, humbly consults the village priest,
and has the sense to resist the more extravagant advice he receives from the other
villagers.
Characters Analysis
Elisenda
Elisenda is a perfect match for her husband, Pelayo, being equally ordinary and concerned
with practical matters. If anything, Elisenda is the more practical of the two because she
suggests charging admission to see the “angel.”
Characters Analysis
Father Gonzaga
The village priest. As an authority figure in the community, Father Gonzaga takes it upon
himself to discern whether the old man is an angel as the townsfolk believe or just a mortal
who just happens to have wings. Father Gonzaga is skeptical that the dirty old man could
really be a messenger from heaven”
Characters Analysis
The Neighbor
Pelayo and Elisenda’s bossy neighbor. The supposedly wise neighbor woman actually
seems more like a silly know-it-all than a true counselor and is the first to suggest that the
old man is a crippled angel.”
Characters Analysis
The Spider-Woman
A freak-show attraction who visits the village. Punished for the sin of disobeying her
parents, the spider woman now has the body of an enormous spider and the head of a sad
young woman.
Themes’ Analysis
Themes of the Story
We don’t
always know
what life brings
Blessing in
disguise
Lack of
perspective
Diversity
Famous in
50s
Asserting
Upbringing
Standad
Divine Gift
Angel comes off the
shores, singing sea
shanties
People’s Reaction
CONCLUSION
A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings is a very vague story that can be interpreted in many ways.
Marquez uses magical realism to craft a thought-provoking tale. The general theme of “A Very Old
Man With Enormous Wings” is “Let things run their natural course; don't bring conflict upon
yourself by trying to defy nature”.
Acknowledgment
Thank you Ma’am Baila for giving us the opportunity to present this
topic and guiding us through this course. And I'm thankful to my
fellow classmates for their time.
THANK YOU
.