Simply existing as a product of the human genome and integrating into society, one inevitably becomes aware that there is a wide range of good and bad things that men and women are capable of. "An Old Man with Enormous Wings: A Story for Children" by Gabriel Garcia Márquez describes the events with little prejudice: while at first glance it seems to put a very negative spin on the truth, the harsh themes that you observe as a reader arise exclusively from the actions and thoughts of each character. Through the theme of religion, this 1955 short story showcases the false piety that many characters exhibit, highlighting the effects that the old man's wings have on the behavior of the surrounding people the author shows the insincerity of the audience, and through the rest of the story the story illustrates the common cruelty and selfishness that are enacted so naturally. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Religion, as a general principle, brings much joy to the lives of those who practice it; providing calculated answers to unanswered questions, giving purpose and meaning to human existence, and allowing many to feel a much-desired sense of belonging through like-minded communities. However, this happy representation of this belief system is not always pure: like any other dogma, religion hides dark secrets and causes as much, if not more, harm than good. “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” displays many of the negative qualities of Christianity, particularly through subtle metaphors and, most importantly, the actions of religious figures. A high amount of false pity is shown through the thoughts and actions of the main characters. of “A very old man with enormous wings”, in particular Pelayo, Elisenda and Father Gonzaga. Throughout the story, the three seem to consider themselves magnanimous, completely unaware of the injustices they commit against the old man. Already in their first encounter with the winged stranger, they recklessly ignored the charity they later preached and instead turned to faith for answers to their questions rather than to his teachings on kindness. As the old man lies face down in the mud, evidently very old, sick and perhaps even dead, his wings make Pelayo and Elisenda, the inhabitants of the house, forget the common courtesy of helping him get up or at least seeing if he was live. It is only after hearing the verdict of a neighbor who supposedly knows everything there is to know about life and death – who confidently tells them he is an angel – that they even interact with him (Marquez, 1). After locking him in the henhouse, they invariably continue to feel altruistic when they decide that they "didn't have the courage to beat him to death", (1) when they speculate whether they would generously "put the angel on a raft with fresh water and provisions for three days and leave him to his fate on the high seas” (1), or when “Pelayo threw a blanket over him and did him the kindness of letting him sleep in the stable” (4) do they ever stop to ask themselves why they should have beaten him to death, or whether, in his state, he would have survived without being swallowed by the sea, or whether he needs medical attention (they discover that he has a fever only after letting him stay in the shed. Yet, despite all this, they remain faithful to their false sense of virtue, always consulting the expert neighbor or Father Gonzaga before making a decision, and on top of that earning money from the crowd that flocks to see the winged man without even passing the thought of repaying him in some way. This unconscious selfishness is, unfortunately,. something that many humans often display around the world. That isWhat is most shocking in this is not the behavior of Pelayo and Elisenda, which could be considered reasonably despicable, but Father Gonzaga's response to the circumstances. One who is devoted by nature of his occupation, however, could not afford the courtesy that every person deserves. The Bible teaches us to treat others the way they want to be treated, and even though the old man wasn't technically human, this principle extends beyond species barriers. As a priest, Father Gonzaga is expected to behave with dignity, kindness, and justice, but soon after his arrival, he gives in to the same assumptions that the rest of the people had come to, suspecting him of being an impostor when he doesn't. speaking the language of God, which was supposed to be a sign of his angelicism. The priest, who in a sense was the old man's only hope of obtaining reasonable care and possibly some health care, provides him no more affection than the others. This behavior, in a sense, parallels the rigid denial that some parts of the Church show towards those who deviate from the norm. Although all of Christianity is not conducted this way, there are some of this faith who do not accept differences as readily as others, and this theme is even more important at the time the story was written, in 1955, a era that was partially characterized by its struggle to overcome racial prejudice, sexism, and other hierarchical issues. One aspect of human nature, and therefore of society, that has always been this way and will continue indefinitely is the discomfort of all animals, especially people, with unfamiliarity and differences. The differences between human beings and the resulting feelings of discomfort and fear have led many to justify cruel behavior: slavery and segregation were justified by the thought that those with darker skin were of lesser importance, therefore less deserving of respect; the destruction of many cultures by the conquistadors was justified because the traditions of the different communities were perceived as of less value; etc. While not all of this behavior is as extreme or on such a large scale, differences in culture and what we are comfortable with ultimately shape many everyday actions and decisions, whether we are aware of them or not. This is not to say that this is the credential of a wrongdoer, since the discomfort felt in an unfamiliar environment is completely natural, yet so many ill-advised interactions arise from this aspect of human nature that do not end positively. Márquez excellently portrays this phenomenon with an accuracy that elicits a chronic pang of sympathy that lasts from the first page to the last through the way the community treats the old man with wings. Marquez's entire "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" is based on assumptions of the old man's differences from the audience, the biggest of which was that the man was an angel simply because of his feathered wings. Based on this hasty conclusion, every character, both major and minor, treats him with the precursory thought that he is a supernatural being. There is a strange period of his first arrival in which the bystanders "made all sorts of conjectures about the prisoner's future" (1), but the strangest thing is not that they feel entitled to decide his fate, but that after makes proposals that imply reverence such as "mayor of the world" and "five-star general to win all wars" (2), he does not receive a shred of respect from a living soul (not even from chickens!). Then, later in the story, the audience easily forgets it when a girl transformed into an enormous tarantula arrives in town: “A show like.