The moral of Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings’ revolves around themes of perception, compassion, and the nature of humanity. The story presents an elderly man with wings who arrives in a small village, becoming an object of fascination and exploitation rather than reverence. This narrative challenges readers to reflect on how society often treats those who are different or marginalized.
One key takeaway is the idea that people often overlook the extraordinary or the miraculous in their midst, transforming the sublime into the mundane through a lack of empathy and understanding. The villagers’ initial awe turns to indifference and cruelty as they exploit the angel-like figure for their amusement. This suggests that the connection to the divine or the extraordinary is often met with skepticism and misunderstanding.
Furthermore, the story critiques the human tendency to cling to the familiar and reject the unknown. The villagers’ treatment of the old man highlights how fear and ignorance can lead to a lack of compassion. Ultimately, the story invites us to reflect on our own behaviors towards those who are different and encourages us to embrace empathy and kindness instead of exploitation and indifference.