Previous
Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” is simultaneously bleak and lighthearted. This conflicting mood has to do with the fact that the story depicts the agony that the angel experiences (at the hands of the cruel and exploitative townspeople) alongside the enjoyment that the townspeople get from such cruelty. The lightheartedness comes from both the townspeople's enjoyment of their harmful behavior (since the narrator channels their cheerful moods), as well as the irony of such enjoyment. In juxtaposing these different moods and orientations to the angel's suffering, Marquez is encouraging readers to feel the pain of the angel while also laughing at the absurdity of the supposedly pious townspeople’s cruel behavior toward him.
Related Themes:
