Stylistic Elements in \"Strange Pilgrims\"

Strange Pilgrims by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

The use of the simile in "Strange Pilgrims"

Gabriel Garcia Marquez' use of similes in the "Strange Pilgrims" collection is intended to emphasize the surreal ideas that can be found throughout the stories. Marquez seemed determined to have his readers get a complex understanding of the concepts that he related to and thus used similes as a means to reach out to these respective people. The presence of this stylistic element in the collection of stories makes readers feel better-acquainted with emotions that characters experience.

From the very first story in the collection readers are presented with a series of similes that provide them with the ability to see things from the protagonist's perspective. This contributes to making them sympathize with him and with gaining a better understanding of his attitudes. It appears that Marquez used similes at this point with the intention of putting across what the President felt rather than what the narrator felt. While seeing a flower vendor on the pier, the central character considers his first visit to Geneva. "On his first visit to Geneva the lake had been calm and clear, and there were tame gulls that would eat out of one's hand, and women for hire who seemed like six-in-the-afternoon phantoms with organdy ruffles and silk parasols." (Marquez 3)

The simile plays an important role in captivating readers as each of the storylines progresses. The "Seventeen Poisoned Englishmen" story contributes to the feelings of abstractness and shock that Marques bring on in his stories. The protagonist in the story attempts to get actively involved in a journey that would normally be meant to enrich her spiritual understanding of the world and that would enable her to see matters from a more religiously subjective perspective. However, she discovers that a trip to Europe only provides her with a bleak image of the social order.

In spite of the fact that she has the chance to eat woodland birds appears to be an impressive concept in the circumstances that she finds herself. Furthermore, a priest attempts to have her understand that she should really be thankful for such a meal, considering the rather critical conditions in the Europe as a result of the war. However, she is shocked with the idea of having to eat the birds and acknowledges the strangeness that she feels as a consequence of being in such a position. "For me," she said, "it would be like eating one of my children." (Marquez 127) This simile presents a more specific image of the woman's thinking -- she considers these people and their habits surprising. It is likely that the fact that these were songbirds influenced her to take on a somewhat supporting attitude with regard to their existence. She felt that eating them would be similar to denying their beauty and their role in the natural world. Such an event would virtually turn her into a person who was unable to spiritually connect with the world. Marquez probably wanted to have the old woman look like an individual who wanted to abandon materialism and to simply appreciate the world without going against some of its most important values -- even with the fact that the social order had the tendency to ignore such concepts.

As previously mentioned Marquez intended to bring readers closer to characters by providing similes creating a connection between the two groups. Even though Senora Prudencia Linero is happy to speak with a priest, she cannot help but observing all the things that made this man seem everything but holy. From her perspective, his personality could be assessed more from the way he conducted himself instead of from his background. "To Senora Prudencia Linero he seemed an ordinary man with no vestige of God's indulgence, and she observed that he had disgraceful hands with broken, dirty nails, and an onion breath so persistent it seemed more like a character trait." (Marquez 127) In this situation the simile brings on a complex portrayal of the priest, taking into account that readers themselves are likely to question the degree to which this person should be appreciated for his beliefs. His habits are actually important in diminishing his position in front of a person who is especially religious. It is not necessarily that the woman does not appreciate him being a priest, as she finds it difficult to associate his behaviors to the position he has.

Marquez uses religion as a central element in his stories and it appears he wants readers to associate it with a feeling of fulfillment and joy. It is difficult to determine whether or not he uses this concept in a sarcastic way, taking into account that religious people and ideas throughout the stories are met by unfortunate events and by the general feeling of pointlessness. "Miss Forbes's Summer of Happiness" brings on a story involving a rigid nanny taking care of two reckless boys. The woman takes on authoritarian attitudes as she tries to control them and ruins all hopes of them having a happy summer while their parents are away.