NEB Grade 12 compulsory English 7th story A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings By Gabriel García Márquez

 7^th Story

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

By Gabriel García Márquez

 “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” is a short story by Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, published in 1955. It is a great example of magical realism, where strange things happen in a normal world. The story mixes reality and fantasy to make us think about how people react to the unknown.

About the Writer

Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014) was a famous Colombian writer and Nobel Prize winner. He is best known for his book "One Hundred Years of Solitude". His stories often blend magic with real life and talk about social issues in a deep but imaginative way.

Setting

The story takes place in a small village by the sea. It is a simple, rural town where people live ordinary lives. The sudden arrival of a mysterious old man with wings surprises everyone and brings magic into their everyday world.

Plot

Pelayo and Elisenda find a weak old man with wings after a storm. People think he might be an angel, but they treat him badly and use him to make money. Even though a child is healed, people lose interest. Later, the old man gets better and flies away, and no one truly understands who he was. The story shows how people often ignore true miracles when they don't look special.

Main Characters

1.       The Old Man with Enormous Wings
A strange, weak old man with big wings. People think he might be an angel, but they don’t treat him kindly. He is misunderstood and ignored even though he is special.

2.       Pelayo
A fisherman who finds the old man. He keeps him locked up and uses him to make money. Pelayo is practical and selfish.

3.       Elisenda
Pelayo’s wife. She also thinks about the money they can earn from the old man and doesn’t try to understand him.

4.       The Sick Child
A child who gets better because of the old man, but this does not change how people treat the old man.

5.       The Crowd of Onlookers
The townspeople who come to see the old man. They are curious at first but soon treat him like a strange show and don’t understand him.

Main Themes

1.      Human Cruelty and Indifference
People treat the old man badly and don’t care about his feelings because he looks strange and different.

2.      The Unknown and Fear
People are scared or confused by things they don’t understand, like the old man with wings.

3.      Greed and Selfishness
Pelayo and Elisenda use the old man to make money without thinking about him as a person.

4.      Faith and Doubt
People don’t know if the old man is really an angel, and they struggle to believe in something they cannot explain.

5.      Miracles in Everyday Life
The story shows how real miracles can happen but often go unnoticed or misunderstood by ordinary people.

 Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the narrator describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story?

The narrator set up the picture of a rainy day to describe the weather and its effects in the exposition of the story. The rain falls continuously for three days and makes the land and houses filled with rainwater. During the rainy season, the sky and sea were changed into ash grey colour and the sand of the shore glimmered like powdered light, which had become a hash of mud and rotten shellfish. The light sparked was so weak and hard to see.

b. Describe the strange old man as Pelayo and his wife first encounter within their courtyard.

When Pelayo and his wife Elisenda first encounter the strange old man in their courtyard, he appears as a bewildering and unsettling figure. The old man is described as **“very old,” with enormous wings that are tattered and dirty, adding to his odd, otherworldly appearance. His wings are not majestic or graceful, but rather, they resemble those of a vulture, battered by time and neglect. His face is “a little worse for wear”, making him look more like a tired, disheveled traveler than a divine being. The old man’s overall appearance is frail and bedraggled, making him seem out of place in the world of the living, further amplifying the mystery surrounding his identity.

He is not immediately recognized as an angel, though his wings and strange presence might suggest so. Instead, he lies motionless in the mud, seemingly exhausted and vulnerable, with his eyes barely open. Pelayo and Elisenda are unsure of what to make of him at first, and it is only later that they begin to consider the possibility that he could be an angel. His passive, almost resigned state and the unremarkable nature of his wings clash with the villagers' expectations of what an angel should look like. This contrast is significant, as it sets the tone for the treatment of the old man throughout the story, where the extraordinary is met with skepticism and misunderstanding.

c. Why did Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop?

Pelayo and Elisenda imprison the old man in the chicken coop out of a combination of fear, curiosity, and practicality. Initially, when Pelayo finds the old man in their courtyard, he is unsure of what to make of the strange, bedraggled figure. At first, Pelayo considers the possibility that the old man could be an angel, sent to heal their sick child. However, the old man’s appearance and passive demeanor do not match the expected image of an angel, and Pelayo is left confused and uncertain.

As the couple begins to think about how to handle the situation, they decide to confine the old man in the chicken coop primarily for safety and control. They feel a sense of ownership over the strange being, and by locking him up, they can contain him and determine what to do with him. Elisenda also sees the situation as an opportunity for profit, as the townspeople, upon hearing of the old man’s presence, flock to see him. Pelayo and Elisenda eventually charge admission for people to view the old man, treating him as a spectacle. Their decision to imprison him in the chicken coop reflects their pragmatic approach to the unusual situation, prioritizing material gain over empathy or understanding of the old man’s true nature.

d. Why was Father Gonzaga not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger?

Father Gonzaga was not sure about the old man being a celestial messenger because the old man did not conform to the traditional expectations of an angel. Despite the presence of enormous wings, which might suggest some divine origin, the old man’s appearance was far from heavenly. He was dirty, disheveled, and appeared to be frail and human, not the powerful and glorious figure one might expect from a celestial being. Father Gonzaga, a man of religious authority, was skeptical and distrustful of the old man’s authenticity, doubting his divine nature because of his unremarkable and imperfect condition.

Father Gonzaga’s doubt is also influenced by his rigid expectations of what an angel or celestial being should be like. Angels, in the religious teachings of the Church, are usually portrayed as immaculate, pure, and radiantly beautiful, and the old man did not meet any of these characteristics. His inability to speak in Latin, the language of the Church, and his general incoherence further convinced Father Gonzaga that the old man might not be a true messenger from God. Instead of investigating further or offering assistance, Father Gonzaga quickly dismisses the old man and regards him with skepticism, illustrating the theme of human inability to recognize the miraculous when it does not fit into conventional frameworks.

e. Many people gathered at Pelayo’s house to see the strange old man. Why do you think the crowd assembled to see him?

The crowd assembled at Pelayo's house to see the strange old man because of a combination of curiosity, superstition, and the mystique surrounding his unusual appearance. When the news spread that an old man with enormous wings had appeared, the people of the town were immediately drawn to the mystery of his presence. The idea of a celestial being or an angel, even though the old man’s appearance didn’t conform to conventional expectations, was enough to provoke the villagers’ interest. People are naturally intrigued by the extraordinary or unexplained, especially in a small, rural town where such events are rare.

Additionally, there is an element of superstition at play. The townspeople likely believed that this strange being might possess supernatural powers or be able to perform miracles, given his wings and otherworldly nature. Some may have hoped for a blessing or healing, much like the sick child who was reportedly healed by his presence. The crowd’s reaction is also influenced by the tendency to treat the unknown as a spectacle, something to be gawped at, rather than understood or revered. The villagers, rather than approaching the old man with reverence or compassion, view him primarily as a curiosity, which leads to the commodification of his presence as they pay to see him. This reflects the theme of exploitation and the failure to appreciate the miraculous when it does not fit one’s expectations.

f. Some miracles happened while the crowd gathers to see the strange man. What are these miracles?

As the crowd gathers to see the strange old man with enormous wings, several subtle miracles occur, though they are largely overlooked or dismissed by the townspeople. One of the most notable is the healing of a sick child. The child, who had been gravely ill and near death, miraculously recovers after being placed near the old man, suggesting that his presence has some supernatural power. However, the townspeople do not fully grasp the significance of this event and instead attribute the recovery to coincidence or the passage of time. Another miracle is the arrival of a spider-woman, a woman who had been transformed into a spider as punishment for her disobedience. This unusual event adds to the sense of wonder and the supernatural atmosphere surrounding the town. While these miracles occur, the crowd remains more fascinated by the old man’s appearance than by the miraculous changes happening around them, reflecting the theme that humanity often fails to recognize or appreciate the true nature of miracles when they do not conform to their expectations.

g. State the irritating things that the people did with the strange old man.

The people in the story treat the strange old man with enormous wings in highly irritating and disrespectful ways. They crowd around him like a mob, gawking at him as if he were a mere curiosity rather than a being deserving of dignity. They insult and mock him, asking ridiculous questions and criticizing his wings for not being as majestic as they expect an angel’s to be. Instead of offering compassion, they exploit him for financial gain, paying to see him as if he were an attraction in a sideshow. The crowd demands that he perform miraculous feats, and when he fails to meet their expectations, they lose interest, growing bored and disappointed. Their treatment of the old man highlights their lack of empathy, turning the miraculous into a spectacle for their own entertainment rather than acknowledging the divine or extraordinary in his presence.

h. How and why was the woman changed into a spider?

The woman in the story was changed into a spider as a punishment for her defiant behavior. According to the tale, she had run away from home with her lover, disobeying her parents and societal expectations. In response to her disobedience, the woman was transformed into a spider by a higher power, a supernatural consequence for her actions. This transformation serves as a form of divine retribution for her rebellion.

Her story is shared with the townspeople, who are more interested in her transformation than in the moral or spiritual significance of her punishment. The woman’s metamorphosis into a spider serves as a parallel to the old man’s strange presence, both figures embodying the mysterious and unexplained. The story of the spider-woman adds to the magical realism of the narrative, highlighting the surreal and fantastical elements of the world that the characters inhabit, where such transformations can occur and coexist with everyday life.

i. Describe how Elisenda saw the strange man flying over the houses?

As Elisenda watches the strange old man with enormous wings fly over the houses, she feels a mix of relief and disbelief. After enduring the burden of the old man's presence for so long, Elisenda sees him as nothing more than a strange, troubling figure who had been a source of inconvenience and profit. When the old man finally takes flight, Elisenda views it as a final departure that signals the end of his time in their lives.

From her perspective, the old man’s flight is almost a miracle of liberation, a release from the spectacle and burdens he imposed on her and her family. She watches him slowly ascend into the sky, and while she recognizes the impossibility of what is happening, she feels no awe or reverence. Rather, she is simply glad to see him go. As he flies over the houses, Elisenda reflects on the fact that, though the old man is no longer a physical presence in her life, she will not truly understand the nature of his visit or what it meant. The flight is marked by indifference, signifying the emotional distance and unresolved mystery surrounding the old man’s existence and his eventual departure.

Reference to text

a. The arrival of a strange old man at Pelayo’s courtyard arouses many suspicions and explanations. Explain how the neighbour woman, Father Gonzaga and the doctor speak of the strange man. Why do you think these three people give three different kinds of interpretations?

When the strange old man with enormous wings arrives at Pelayo’s courtyard, the neighbor woman, Father Gonzaga, and the doctor each offer distinct interpretations based on their individual perspectives and beliefs. The neighbor woman, driven by superstition, immediately assumes that the old man is an angel sent to help Pelayo’s sick child. She bases this on his appearance—particularly his wings—and the idea that angels are typically sent to intervene in such dire situations. In contrast, Father Gonzaga, the local priest, rejects the notion that the old man is an angel because he doesn’t fit the idealized image of divine beings. He is dirty, frail, and cannot speak Latin, which causes Father Gonzaga to view him with skepticism, reinforcing the institutionalized religious view that only perfectly divine beings can serve a heavenly purpose. The doctor, meanwhile, approaches the situation with a rational mindset, dismissing the idea of divine intervention altogether. He attributes the old man’s wings to a medical condition or physical anomaly, showing his reliance on science and logical explanations rather than superstition or faith.

These three differing interpretations arise because each character views the situation through the lens of their own worldview. The neighbor woman is influenced by faith and superstition, seeing the old man as a symbol of divine intervention. Father Gonzaga, representing organized religion, requires conformity to established norms and dismisses anything that challenges his understanding of angels. The doctor, coming from a scientific and rational perspective, dismisses any possibility of the supernatural and instead looks for a physical explanation. This contrast highlights how human beings often interpret the unknown based on their personal beliefs, values, and roles in society, and how people’s understanding of the miraculous is shaped by their biases and frameworks of understanding.

b. This story belongs to the genre of ‘magical realism, a genre perfected by Gabriel Garcia Marquez in his novels and short stories. Magical realism is a narrative technique in which the storyteller narrates the commonplace things with magical colour and the events look both magical and real at the same time. Collect five magic realist happenings from the story and argue why they seem magical to you.

In Gabriel García Márquez's “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” the story blends the ordinary with the extraordinary, a hallmark of magical realism. One of the most striking magical realist elements is the arrival of the old man with enormous wings. His appearance in Pelayo’s courtyard is both baffling and remarkable, yet it is treated with indifference by the characters. The wings are a fantastical, magical feature, but the characters—rather than reacting with awe or disbelief—take his presence as an inconvenient curiosity, treating him as if he were just another part of the world, making this event both magical and mundane at the same time.

Another magical realist moment occurs when the old man begins to fly over the houses. The concept of a human flying, especially an old man with worn wings, is an impossible phenomenon in reality. However, in the story, it is presented casually, almost as a natural conclusion to his existence in the town. His flight, though magical, does not spark the expected wonder; instead, it is treated as just another oddity. This blending of the magical and the everyday is a defining characteristic of magical realism, where the extraordinary becomes part of the normal fabric of life.

The transformation of a woman into a spider also exemplifies magical realism. The woman, who had run away with her lover, is changed into a spider as punishment. This transformation is supernatural, but it is narrated without shock or surprise, as though such occurrences are common. The townspeople's treatment of the transformation—simply as an odd story—underscores the magical realist technique of narrating magical events as part of the natural world, rather than as supernatural disruptions.

The healing of the sick child is another magical realist occurrence. The child, who was gravely ill and on the brink of death, suddenly recovers after being near the old man. This miracle, though undeniably magical, is not met with the reverence one might expect. Instead, it is presented as a simple, almost unnoticed event, with the parents seeing it as a fortunate coincidence rather than recognizing it as a miraculous act. The casualness with which the miracle is accepted emphasizes the magical realism of the narrative, where magic and the real world coexist without any necessary explanation.

Lastly, the townspeople’s exploitation of the old man also reflects the genre’s magical realist nature. Instead of viewing the old man as a divine being, they turn him into a spectacle, charging admission for people to see him. This mundane exploitation of something magical—turning the miraculous into a commodity—is another key feature of magical realism. The blending of commercialization and the supernatural highlights the absurdity and indifference with which the characters approach the magical, further blurring the line between what is real and what is magical.

These magical realist events seem magical because they involve occurrences that defy the laws of nature, yet they are woven into the fabric of everyday life without surprise or fanfare. In magical realism, the extraordinary is made ordinary, and the story encourages readers to accept the magical as part of the real world.

c. The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disobeyed her parents. This episode at once shifts people’s concentration from the strange old man to the spider woman. What do you think is the purpose of the author to bring this shift in the story?

The author introduces the episode of a woman who became a spider for having disregarded her parents by going outside to dance without any permission. The scene of shifting a woman into a spider is somewhat breaking the attention of an old man, I think, the author brought this shift in the story is to show another example of magical realism. The intention of the author was to show us the greed of humans. In the beginning, Pelayo, and Elisenda take care of a strange old man when they benefit from him by charging five cents admission to see. But when a spider woman comes and people pay less attention to an angel, they do not care about him. Old man drags here and there. The house of an old man collapse due to rain and sun but they didn’t repair it.

d. The story deals with the common people’s gullibility. How do Pelayo and his wife take advantage of common people’s whim?

Pelayo and his wife, Elisenda, take advantage of the common people's gullibility by turning the strange old man with wings into a spectacle for financial gain. When the old man first arrives, the couple is unsure of his true nature, but they quickly realize that the townspeople view him as a miracle. Instead of treating the old man with compassion or reverence, they begin to exploit his presence. Recognizing the townspeople’s curiosity and desire to witness the extraordinary, they set up a makeshift admission fee for anyone who wants to see the old man. This commercial approach to the supernatural illustrates how Pelayo and Elisenda use the people's gullibility—their belief in the miraculous without questioning its authenticity—to make money. They are fully aware that the townspeople are eager to witness anything out of the ordinary and are willing to pay to satisfy their curiosity.

The couple's exploitation of the crowd’s gullibility goes further when they capitalize on the visitors’ fantasies. People come from all over, expecting to see an angel or a divine being, and Pelayo and Elisenda feed into their beliefs by charging an entry fee, profiting from the town's eagerness to witness the extraordinary. Instead of treating the old man with kindness or trying to understand him, they treat him as a source of income, recognizing that the people’s blind belief in his supernatural nature can be monetized. Through this manipulation, the couple reinforces the theme of exploitation and reflects the human tendency to commodify the miraculous, taking advantage of the common people's need to believe in something beyond the ordinary. The story suggests that, while the townspeople are gullible, Pelayo and Elisenda are also complicit in using this gullibility for their own benefit, making them morally questionable figures in the narrative.