A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings Group

Question:

ccc07c
ccc07c
Student
College - Sophomore

In the story "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings", what is the relationship between the angel and the child? 

How come the child is the only one who treats the angel humanely? Also, they both get the chicken pox at the same time. What is the connection between them?

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Posted by ccc07c on Sunday November 16, 2008 at 12:33 PM and tagged with a very old man with enormous wings, angel, characters, child.

Answers:

  1. accessteacher
    accessteacher Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Very interesting question. The child of Pelayo and Elisenda is perhaps "healed" by the angel when he first arrives, though this is not clearly stated. It doesn't actually state that the child treats the angel humanely - it rather suggests that the angel is to the child a kind of pet or a play thing - it is suggested that once the child starts school, he has no more time for his childish amusements with the angel. The narrator merely says about their relationship:

    The angel was no less standoffish with him than with other mortals, but he tolerated the most ingenious infamies with the patience of a dog who had no illusions.

    This quote hardly describes a close relationship! Rather, the child, just like the rest of the community, treat the angel inhumanely, as they would an object. It is interesting that they seem to treat the spider lady with more humanity than they do the angel.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/very-old-man-with-enormous-wings-sa...

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    Posted by accessteacher on Sunday September 27, 2009 at 6:38 AM