The way the story describes the old man clearly gives the reader an idea of ​​his well-being. "He was lying in a corner drying his wings in the sun among the fruit and breakfast scraps that the early risers had thrown on him." (Marquez 2) This quote shows that they didn't care about feeding him properly, much less enough to make him healthy and in good condition. “He smelled unbearably of the outdoors, the backs of his wings were strewn with parasites, and his main feathers had been battered by earthly winds, and nothing about him measured up to the proud dignity of angels.” (Marquez 2) He didn't fit any of people's expectations of an angel. Angels are believed to be holy, beautiful and young and can perform miracles. Even though he didn't realize any of their ideas about the angel, everyone still hopes for a miracle but did nothing to try to earn it.