The two of the most prominent magical elements in Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” are unimaginable creatures of the old man with angel wings and a woman with a spider body. Even though both magical creatures are so alienated from reality, the author blends fantasy and reality by locating them in settings that seem authentic to reality. The old man rests in the chicken coop with other feathered creatures, and the woman travels with the circus, the only place where extraordinary things become a daily source of income.
Although magical and fantastical creatures are often used in fiction or films, this story is different as the author utilizes an approach that does not embellish the creatures’ magical origins. Moreover, the author adds an unusual sense of realism to the fantasy aspect with a detailed description of the visual flaws and the “pitiful condition” of the old man (Marquez, 1999, p. 218). Additionally, the author provides an element of frustration and uncertainty by describing the villagers’ confusion in their efforts to understand the old man’s origin as an angel.
The uncertainty element is very different from the standard approach to fantasy and results in the feeling of melancholy in the story. The melancholy emphasizes the slow progression of the old man’s life, as the whole village becomes disappointed in his magical powers that the old man cannot showcase due to his age and poor condition. The melancholy also emphasizes Pelayo and Elisenda’s frustration in not knowing what to do with the non-functional angel for years after he landed in their courtyard. Thus, magical elements in Marquez’s work are significantly different from ones frequently used in films and fiction as the author approaches them with an intent to emphasize their flaws rather than embellish their features.
References
Marquez, G. G. (1999). Collected stories. HarperCollins.