Talk about suffering. In "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings," the very old man starts off in bad condition, and it just gets worse. He crash-lands in the storm, gets trapped in a chicken coop, ends up poked and prodded by inquisitive crows, and is then treated like a neglected and unwanted pet. The common denominator? Other people. His sad state, and the lack of compassion by the people around him, is a portrait of the way that the weakest people's suffering just seems to multiply. Just like those pesky exponents in math class.
Questions About Suffering
- Is the very old man with enormous wings the only one who suffers in the story? How do you know that he is suffering?
- Does suffering seem to be an inevitable part of life in the story, or could it be avoided?
- Some people say that whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Do you think that suffering has a purpose in the story? Does it make anyone stronger?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Suffering is an inevitable part of human (and possibly angelic) life.
Suffering is a result of human interaction. It's in our nature to be cruel and unfeeling toward each other.