The winter of 1609- 10, known as “the starving time”, was especially harsh, and relations between the English and the Powhatans were strained. The Powhatans had literally laid siege to the fort, which made it impossible for the settlers to find food other than what provisions they had within the fort.
The main themes in "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" are doubt, ambiguity, and the problem of interpretation. Doubt and ambiguity: A variety of theories about the old man are presented: some believe he's an angel, while others view him as a member of a new race.
