A Very Young Woman with Not Much to Say

What an interesting story.  Of all the literature we've read in class so far, these seems to be the most bazaar by far.  However, I do think it is accessible in many ways, and I might be making it more difficult to interpret than it actually is -- on the contrary, I might actually be "under-thinking" it.  I can't decide. 

A few connections that stood out to me:

On page 99 of the Pearson Anthology, "It so happened during those days, among so many other carnical attractions, there arrived in town the traveling show of the woman who had been changed into a spider for having disobeyed her parents.  The admission to see her was not only less than the admission to see the angel, but people were permitted to ask her all manner of questions about her absurd state and to examine her up and down so that no one would ever doubt the truth of her horror."

The use of language in these two sentences seems like it could have been drawn straight from one of the gospels.  The phrase, "It so happened during those days," is what caught my attention at first.

"On the third day..." is the beginning of the opening sentence.  They left the angel on the raft for three days.  This seems like some sort of Biblical association. 

The author's name is Gabriel. 

The angel is repulsed by the "hellish" heat from the oil lamps and sacremental candles. 



It seemed to me that irreverance and ungratefulness were evident in the human characters in this story.  Pelayo and Elisenda (what a beautiful name!) mistreated and used the angel, finally cursing him and calling their house a "hell full of angels."  It made me think of our obvious selfishness, even as believers.  We take truth for granted in so many ways, we sometimes use God like a puppet, asking Him for what we want, and forgetting to thank Him later.  It also reminded me of the verse that says we "entertain angels unaware."   

I thought this section of the story was interesting: "Nevertheless, he promised to write a letter to his bishop so that the latter would write to his primate so that the latter would write to the Supreme Pontiff in order to get the final verdict from the highest courts."  I thought it might be a stab at the Roman catholic church and its protocol. 

It's the little things I feel more comfortable grasping at this point.  The most troubling things in the story, an imperfect, sick, old angel, the meaning of all the mysticism in the story, and the main "point" I am struggling with. 

I would love to write more about this, and I will.  Unfortunately I am required to attend a rehearsal tonight that will last until very late.  I hope to continue thinking and adding to this post tomorrow.