A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings | Techniques
In establishing the character of the old man, Garcia Marquez plays against traditional stereotypes of angels. Angels are supernatural creatures and are expected to be presented in images that convey grandeur, perfection, wisdom, and grace. By their definition, angels are contrasted with humans; though they resemble humans physically, they are super-human in every conceivable way. But like Father Gonzaga, the reader's first response to the old man is likely to be that he is "much too human." Instead of presenting a majestic, awe-inspiring figure, Garcia Marquez describes a creature with...
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