Balthazars Marvelous Afternoon

Gabriel Garcia Marquez

born on March 6, 1927

Colummbian novelist ,Journalist, short story writer, screen writer.

Awarded the nobel prize in literature in 1982

CHARACTERS:

Balthazar

-skilled carpenter

-3- years old poor carpenter

-uneducated

-pities the rich

-uneasy with the rich

Ursula

-Balthazar’s partner

-lived with him for 4 years

-no children

-wanted Money

Jose Montiel

-rich person

-obese and Hairy

Father of Pepe MOntiel

-doesn’t easily spend his money

-harsh on his famly

Adelaide Montiel

-wife of Jose montiel

-tortured by obsession with death

-after lunch, she closes all windows and doors and lays for 2 hrs with eyes open
Pepe Montiel

-son of jose Montiel

-12 years old

-was pathetic just like his mother

Dr. Octavio Giraldo

-old physician

-happy with his life

-tire of his profssion

People

-praised balthazar’s cage

-celebrated with balthazar

Settings:

A village in Columbia

5 basic location

Balthazar’s House and shop

Montiel’s house

The pool hall or whore house

The street

Symbol :

The most beautiful cage in the world is significant symbol. Symbolizes the work of art. The cage evokes
astonishment and pleasure in all who see it, except for the rich man. As dr. say, this is a flight of
imagination.

Theme:

Balthazar creates a stunning work of art . the most beautiful cage I the world and gives his art away. A
marvelous afternoon for the artist who cant be brought, who doesn’t let money determine the fate of
his work.

Moral :
Balthazar made a cage for Chepe Montiel
when he finished the cage, many people marvelled at it's beauty

Balthazar, along with his "wife" Ursula, decided to sell the cage for 60 pesos

Dr. Octavio Giraldo, came to see the cage and became interested with it

Balthazar refused to sell it because it was already sold

Balthazar, then, went to the house of the Montiels Adelaide, Jose Montiel's wife, was the first to
greet Balthazar in their home

Jose heard the noise and hurriedly came down to see who was around

Balthazar presented the cage and told them that Pepe, their son ordered it

Jose was enraged because his son ordered something without his permission

Pepe arrived from school and was welcomed by his angry father

Jose told Balthazar that he will not buy the cage Pepe threw a fit because he cannot have his
cage

His mother tried to pacify him but his father told him to let him be

Balthazar decided to give the cage to Pepe

Jose refused it saying that he won't pay for it

Balthazar insisted that the child keep it and he left When Balthzar left, Jose shouted at his son
and cursed him for giving out orders without his permission

Balthazar went to the pool hall where the people congratulated him for earning a lot from
Montiel

He lied to the people and told them that he got 60 pesos for it

he bought everyone drinks to celebrate

he immediately got drunk because he never drinks

everyone celebrated with Balthazar but at mealtime they left him alone Ursula waited for him to
come home

Balthazar passed out on the street

He spent all his money plus his watch was left in pawn with a promise to pay for it the next day
He had the happiest dream that he didn't budge when he felt that he was being robbed

The women who passed by him on their way to morning mass didn't dare to look at him,
thinking he was dead