The story begins with a rain falling down which appears to be a continuous element in Marques’s work. The text is about a creature that is found face first in the mud that is best described as a man with wings. This idea of a creature that embodies physical characteristics such as a human appearance and wings is a common element of magical realism. Utilizing the binary of human versus inhuman creates both a sympathy towards the man and a sense of curiosity for the reader. Marques also introduces another creature, a female, who had been transformed into a tarantula as a consequence for being disobedient to her parents. This creature may signify a cultural norm of reverence for one’s elders or parents. This story in particular discusses a number of religious elements, all of which in a negative connotation. An “angel” is usually regarded with humility and unfailing respect but we find the other characters in the text paying little to no respect to this creature. In fact, the angel is set up as a means of making a profit for Pelayo and Elisenda where people from around the area can pay money to be spectators. Further degradation of religion is illustrated in two other instances: the first is through the failure of the church to respond to Father Gonzaga and the second is the townspeople’s interest in the tarantula over the angel. Their also seems to be a passive connotation given to religion as despite vehement tormenting, the angel remains patient and tolerant. This profiteering that occurs as the expense of the angel demonstrates a blatant demonstration of Marques’s opinion of the church. This story utilizes the binaries of religion vs. man and creatures vs. man to illustrate several characteristics of Latin American culture.
The story begins with a rain falling down which appears to be a continuous element in Marques’s work. The text is about a creature that is found face first in the mud that is best described as a man with wings. This idea of a creature that embodies physical characteristics such as a human appearance and wings is a common element of magical realism. Utilizing the binary of human versus inhuman creates both sympathy towards the man and a sense of curiosity for the reader. Marques also introduces another creature, a female, who had been transformed into a tarantula as a consequence for being disobedient to her parents. This creature may signify a cultural norm of reverence for one’s elders or parents. This story in particular discusses a number of religious elements, all of which in a negative connotation. An “angel” is usually regarded with humility and unfailing respect but we find the other characters in the text paying little to no respect to this creature. In fact, the angel is set up as a means of making a profit for Pelayo and Elisenda where people from around the area can pay money to be spectators. Further degradation of religion is illustrated in two other instances: the first is through the failure of the church to respond to Father Gonzaga and the second is the townspeople’s interest in the tarantula over the angel. Their also seems to be a passive connotation given to religion as despite vehement tormenting, the angel remains patient and tolerant. This profiteering that occurs as the expense of the angel demonstrates a blatant demonstration of Marques’s opinion of the church. By giving the angel dirty wings and having the priest classify it as not an angel because it did not speak Latin criticizes the church. This story utilizes the binaries of religion vs. man and creatures vs. man to illustrate several characteristics of Latin American culture. Religion is viewed as potentially corrupt through this profiteering off of an “angel.” It is also never clearly revealed that this man with enormous wings is in fact an angel. Marques allows the reader to draw their own conclusion which is often made based on the premise of whether they are religious or atheist.
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