Introduction to Religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
Religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Marquez shows its critical role in the lives of people. Its interpretation, and its interpreters have a special place in society, town, or village. They not only hold far-reaching dominance but also voice their opinions on matters totally beyond their understanding. Although “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” is a very simple story of a couple Pelayo and Elisenda who fortunately find an old man with wings on a stormy night, in the midst of this plot, there appears a religious figure, Father Gonzaga, who steals the show through his religious domination and interpretation of such occurrences. It shows that religion holds a special place in the life of people and takes any form the religious figure wants to even if the event or the incident is entirely incomprehensible to them. In the simple plot of this story, Garcia has revealed a typical religious figure, Father Gonzaga, who exploits the raw belief of the common man by invoking a unique interpretation of the incomprehensible phenomenon in the language which is totally abracadabra to the common public using hierarchical authority to hide his inability.
Gonzaga and Religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
When Father Gonzaga, who is a critical figure related to religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”, appears on the scene, the rumor about the old man with wings has already spread in the village, and the old neighboring woman of the village has already named him “He’s an angel” (Marquez 144) with her typical opinion that “He must have been coming for the child” (144). When Father Gonzaga arrives, he talks to the angel in his Latin language which he observed that he did not “understand the langue of God or know how to greet His ministers” (145) declaring that it was something similar to the devil after minute observation. He concluded that he was unable to give a final verdict, which is typical of such figures. His first interpretation of the incomprehensible language of the angel is that he is none of the celestial creatures, and his first impression is that he is “an impostor” (145). His conclusion is that “noting about him measured up to the proud dignity of the angles” (145) which he makes known to the people who have no other option except to believe him. He not only warns them of the risks but also “reminded them that the devil had the bad habit of making us of carnival tricks” (145) which clearly shows how much he can exploit the simpleton people of the village through his sacred authority. The entire plot revolves around this figure and his opinion.
Authority of Religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
Secondly, he has used his authority of knowing the religious language which is Latin in his case. When Father Gonzaga arrives, Garcia tells that earlier he used to be a “robust woodcutter” (145) but then turns to the priesthood which he cleverly perceived would bless him with greater authority than he had with being a simple woodcutter as is shown when he asks the people to “open the door” (145) to have him a closer look. However, the deeper impression that he makes on the mind of the people is through his grip on the religious language, Latin, that others do not understand. This is his supreme authority, and a tool to exploit others declaring that whosoever does not know this religious language that he says is the “language of God and His ministers” (145), he/she is not able to decide on religious matters. As the common people do not understand this abracadabra, it becomes a tool for him to voice his opinion declaring that this is a devil and for more opinion, he would seek advice from his higher-ups. This shows how a lone figure wields religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”.
Religious Hierarchy about Religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
Like dictatorial structures, religious figures also hold their authority based on religious hierarchical structures irrespective of whatever religion they hold. When they fail, they refer it to the higher-ups and so on until the final verdict is lost in the maze of this structure and people forget if there is such an incident. However, even if the opinion is given, it is considered a sacred verdict and is implemented and complied with as such. Father Gonzaga here, when he fails to understand but gives his opinion, tells that he would “write a letter to his bishop so that he letter would write to his Supreme Pontiff to get final verdict” to let the people know what it is but until then they can either accept his opinion or let it slip out of their minds and carry on enjoying their pranks which they did in the case of this angel. On the other hand, it would have happened the same with his letter as it happens in bureaucratic structures that “They spent their time finding out …whether he wasn’t just a Norwegian wings” (147). Then another incident happens in the town and the people lose their interest in the angel which is also a point that people often pay attention to even sacred or non-sacred things but for a moment and not forever. This shows the role of religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”.
Conclusion
In short, religion holds a greater authority on the life of the simple people and they only come out of its hold when religious figures suffer from “insomnia” (147) and they have other interests to engage in. Otherwise, such typical figures are highly clever and use their tools such as language that is not comprehensible to the common people to voice their opinion or declare something unholy which in this case is the angel. They also resort to using their bureaucratic set up to keep the thinking of the people in check. In the Latin language, sacred terms such as celestial being, divine thing, or angel and further religious hierarchical terms such as the priest, bishop, and Supreme Pontiff are just symbols used to elaborate this further.
Works Cited
Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings. n. d. NDSU. Web. Accessed 20 Nov. 2019.
Relevant Questions about Religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”
- How does religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” influence the characters’ reactions to the mysterious old man, and what does this reveal about the story’s exploration of faith and doubt?
- What symbolic significance does religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” hold, particularly in relation to the Church and its authority, and how does it shape the overall thematic depth of the narrative?
- How does the portrayal of religion in “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” influence the story’s commentary on the human response to the supernatural and the conflict between religious doctrine and genuine spirituality?
