By simply existing as a product of the human genome and integrating into society, one inevitably becomes aware of the fact that there is a wide range of good and bad people including men and women. women are capable. Gabriel Garcia Marquez's "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings: A Children's Tale" depicts its events with little bias: even though they seem at first to put a very negative spin on the truth, the harsh themes that the we observe as a reader come solely from the actions and thoughts of each character. Through the theme of religion, this 1955 short story displays a false piety demonstrated by many characters, by highlighting the effects that the old man's wings have on the behavior of the surrounding people, the author shows the lack of sincerity of the audience, and through the rest of the story he illustrates the common cruelty and selfishness that is acted out so naturally. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayReligion, 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 within like-minded communities. However, this happy representation of this belief system is not always pure: like any other dogma, religion conceals dark secrets and causes as much, if not more, harm than good. “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” presents many of the negative qualities of Christianity, particularly through subtle metaphors and, most notably, the actions of religious figures. A large amount of false piety is shown through the thoughts and actions of the main characters. of “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, particularly Pelayo, Elisenda and Father Gonzaga. Throughout the story, the three seem to view themselves as magnanimous, completely unaware of the injustices they are committing against the old man. From their first encounter with the winged stranger, they recklessly ignored the charity they later preached and instead turned to their faith for answers to their questions rather than to his teachings of kindness. As the old man lay face down in the mud, obviously very old, sick and perhaps even dead, his wings made Pelayo and Elisenda, the inhabitants of the house, forget the usual courtesy of helping him up or at least to see if he was alive. Only after hearing the verdict of a neighbor who supposedly knows everything about life and death – and who confidently tells them that he is an angel – do they even interact with him (Marquez, 1). After locking him in the henhouse, they invariably continue to feel altruistic as they decide that "they didn't have the heart to bludgeon him to death" (1) when wondering whether or not they should not generously “put the angel on a bed”. raft with fresh water and provisions for three days and left him to his fate on the high seas" (1), or when "Pelayo threw him a blanket and did him the charity of letting him sleep in the shed" (4 ). They never question why they should have bludgeoned him to death in the first place, or whether, in his condition, he would survive without being swallowed up by the sea, or whether he needs medical attention (they note that he has a fever only after letting him stay in the shed). Yet despite all this, they remain true to their false sense of virtue, always consulting the knowledgeable neighbor or Father Gonzaga before making a decision, and on top of that, making moneythanks to the crowds flocking to see the winged man without even passing by. the idea of ​​repaying him in one way or another. This unconscious selfishness is unfortunately something that many humans often display in the world. What is most shocking is not the behavior of Pelayo and Elisenda, which could be considered reasonably contemptible, but Father Gonzaga's response to the circumstances. One who is pious by the nature of his profession still cannot extend the courtesy that every person deserves. The Bible teaches everyone to treat others as they wish to be treated, and although the old man was not technically human, this principle extends beyond species barriers. As a priest, Father Gonzaga is supposed to behave with dignity, kindness and justice, but upon 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 is not. don't do it. speak the language of God, which should have been a sign of his angelicism. The priest, who was in some ways the old man's only hope of obtaining reasonable treatment and possibly care, does not show him any more affection than the others. This behavior, in some ways, resembles the rigid denial that some parts of the Church exemplify toward those who deviate from the norm. Although not all of Christianity is conducted this way, some members of this faith do not accept differences as readily as others, and this theme is even more important in times when history has been written in 1955, an era that was in part characterized by its struggle to overcome racial prejudice, sexism, and other hierarchical issues. One aspect of human nature, and therefore society, that has always been this way and will continue indefinitely is the discomfort of all animals, especially people, with unfamiliarity and differences. Differences among human beings and the resulting feelings of discomfort and fear led many people to justify cruel behavior: slavery and segregation were justified by the idea that those with darker skin had less importance and therefore deserved less respect; the conquistadorial destruction of many cultures was justified because the traditions of different communities were perceived to be of lesser value; etc. While not all of these behaviors are as extreme or on such a large scale, differences in culture and what one is comfortable with ultimately shape many everyday actions and decisions, whether we realize it or not. . This is not to say that it is an evil-doer title, since the discomfort one feels in unfamiliar surroundings is entirely natural, and yet so many reckless interactions arise from this aspect of the human nature and do not end positively. Marquez excellently describes this phenomenon with a precision that arouses a chronic outpouring of sympathy that lasts from the first page to the last through the community's treatment of the old man with the wings. The entirety of Marquez's "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings" is based on assumptions. differences between the old man and the audience, the biggest of which being that the man was an angel simply because of his feathered wings. Starting from this hasty conclusion, each character, major or minor, treats him with the precursory thought that he is a supernatural being. There is a strange period upon his arrival when spectators were "making all kinds of conjectures about the future of the captive" (1), but the strangest thing about this affair is not that they felt entitled to decide to his fate, but only after making suggestions that imply respect such.