Coffeehouse #2

The House of Asterion” written by Jorge Luis Borges and “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”written by Gabriel Garcia Marques are very similar in Gothic Elements. In “The House of Asterion” and “A Very Old Man with Enormous wings” include characters that are both fear and ostracized by those in their community and society. Asterion (the main character) in “The House of Asterion” is described as half human half bull (Minotaur) however his story begins with the refuting his accusers – making him reveal his arrogance, ostracized, and his depression. “Every nine years nine men enter the house so that I may deliver them from evil. I hear their steps or their voices in the depths of the stone galleries and I run joyfully to find them. “ (Borges 2) The villagers in the community decided nine villagers with the community as a form of sacrifice to satisfy the wrath in Asterion in his labyrinth. A maze waiting for not only company but also his redemption. 

In the story “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” – like the title he happen to be an old man with wings, his appearance of a bald head, few teeth, and in a homeless like condition. As well, he doesn’t speak in a regular language – making it very difficult for his to be understood. Pelayo and his wife Elisenda have a sick child who they so desperately want him to be cured . At the beginning of the story, The old man with wings is at first believed to be an angel, making Christianity a big influence of this stories. Pelayo and his wife decide to imprison the Old Man with wings, to take advantage of the situation and make some money. Being locked in cage, creates an Gothic element of “infinite” doors – saying that there is always an escape the trouble is when.