In Gabriel Marquez's "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings", shows the human response through the coexistence of cruelty and compassion shown towards the "Angel". There are moments of striking cruelty and callousness throughout the story. After Elisenda and Pelayo’s child recovers from his illness, as an example, instead of killing the Old man/Angel, they end up deciding on sending the "Angel" out to sea on a raft with food and previsions to last him 3 days. This shows a sign of cruelty. The "Angel's" appearance is already shown as, raggedy, dirty and deteriorating. His overall heath is not as it should be. As the story progresses, the family notices that the attention that the "Angel" is getting, may prove to be profitable. After that, they decided to charge a fee to see the "Angel." Branding him and poking him with hot irons, to make him jump her react. As cruel as it may seem, they family still benefits from the "Angel's" pain and agony.
According to (Sparknotes) Even though he is taken in only grudgingly, the old man eventually becomes part of Pelayo and Elisenda’s household. By the time the old man finally flies into the sunset, Elisenda, for all her fussing, sees him go with a twinge of regret. And it is the old man’s extreme patience with the villagers that ultimately transforms Pelayo’s and Elisenda’s lives. Seen in this light, the old man’s refusal to leave might be interpreted as an act of compassion to help the impoverished couple. García Márquez may have even intended to remind readers of the advice found in Hebrews 13:2 in the Bible: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
According to (Sparknotes) Even though he is taken in only grudgingly, the old man eventually becomes part of Pelayo and Elisenda’s household. By the time the old man finally flies into the sunset, Elisenda, for all her fussing, sees him go with a twinge of regret. And it is the old man’s extreme patience with the villagers that ultimately transforms Pelayo’s and Elisenda’s lives. Seen in this light, the old man’s refusal to leave might be interpreted as an act of compassion to help the impoverished couple. García Márquez may have even intended to remind readers of the advice found in Hebrews 13:2 in the Bible: “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
[LINKS]
http://www.sparknotes.com/short-stories/a-very-old-man-with-enormous-wings/themes.html
http://www.reference.com/motif/society/a-very-old-man-with-enormous-wings-symbolism
http://eileen-vetri.blogspot.com/2011/09/very-old-man-with-enormous-wings-by.html
http://jixamanu.tripod.com/very-old-man-with-enormous-wings-symbolism.htm
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