When the Old Man regains his strength and is able to fly away, Elisenda lets escape a sigh of relief, not recognizing that the Old Man's presence in their home was what brought her and her family out of poverty and enabled them to build a crab-proof, and "angel-proof," mansion. She exclaims, "it was awful living in that hell full of angels." Although the angel brought her family wealth, she only thought of the Old Man as an annoyance.