A Very Old Man with Enourmous Wings: Magical Realism
Kendall Lee
2/15/13
Eng. Comp 1101 essay
Magical realism can be defined as a genre in which magic elements are a natural part in a “realistic environment”. In A very old man with Enormous wings Author Gabriel Marquez tells a fairy tale in a realistic manner while incorporating the magic of the angel. In this story the angel is the reason for the family’s recovery from tragedy. Before the arrival of the angel from the skies above, the family is poor with a dying son. Once the family takes the angel in the young child begins to return back to normal health and the family uses its profit from the angel I will elaborate on later to buy themselves a new home. Also the Spiderwoman who appears in this story is also a great example of magical realism that illustrates the self-interestedness people have on their own faith.
To begin with, In “A very old man with Enormous wings” according to magical realism the angel represents power, speed, and limitless freedom. In the Christian religion an angel often represents a beautiful creature that often comes to bring great news and or make things better. In this story the angel comes to do both. Although the angel never speaks in a language they can understand he brings good news with his powers which allows them to become wealthy and also make things better by healing their child. For example the story states “A short time afterward they locked the angel in the chicken coop, the child woke up without a fever and an appetite to eat. “ This shows the supposed powers of the angel. The angel’s age also has no effect to the sightseers who come to see him. The story also compares the angel to something natural because of the way his wings fit into his body. In Fact the village doctor wonders why everyone else does not have wings. The angel has of a heavenly angel but all other traits of an earthly creature.
Secondly, In “A very old man with Enormous wings” According to Magical realism the Spiderwoman represents the
2/15/13
Eng. Comp 1101 essay
Magical realism can be defined as a genre in which magic elements are a natural part in a “realistic environment”. In A very old man with Enormous wings Author Gabriel Marquez tells a fairy tale in a realistic manner while incorporating the magic of the angel. In this story the angel is the reason for the family’s recovery from tragedy. Before the arrival of the angel from the skies above, the family is poor with a dying son. Once the family takes the angel in the young child begins to return back to normal health and the family uses its profit from the angel I will elaborate on later to buy themselves a new home. Also the Spiderwoman who appears in this story is also a great example of magical realism that illustrates the self-interestedness people have on their own faith.
To begin with, In “A very old man with Enormous wings” according to magical realism the angel represents power, speed, and limitless freedom. In the Christian religion an angel often represents a beautiful creature that often comes to bring great news and or make things better. In this story the angel comes to do both. Although the angel never speaks in a language they can understand he brings good news with his powers which allows them to become wealthy and also make things better by healing their child. For example the story states “A short time afterward they locked the angel in the chicken coop, the child woke up without a fever and an appetite to eat. “ This shows the supposed powers of the angel. The angel’s age also has no effect to the sightseers who come to see him. The story also compares the angel to something natural because of the way his wings fit into his body. In Fact the village doctor wonders why everyone else does not have wings. The angel has of a heavenly angel but all other traits of an earthly creature.
Secondly, In “A very old man with Enormous wings” According to Magical realism the Spiderwoman represents the