Short stories, like every other type of literary genre, are utilized
             to convey a particular message and meaning to the reader. It's not always
             directly expressed, but sometimes conveyed in such a way that the reader
             must decipher it after several deductions from analyzing the text. In
             Balthazar's Marvelous Afternoon, readers have to come up with conclusions
             about Balthazar. Was Balthazar simply in it for profits? Or was he someone
             who was proud of his work? Readers see the main protagonist deal with the
             frailties of humans. Only the readers can decide just exactly the virtue of
             Balthazar's Marvelous Afternoon deals with a poor carpenter
             (Balthazar) and his birdcage particularly made for Pepe, the son of a very
             rich man by name of Chepe Montiel. Having heard about the cage, people came
             to see it and were impressed by its beauty and size. The town doctor
             desires to purchase it, but his offer is rejected under the claim it had
             already been sold to another. Upon arriving to the house where the cage was
             going to be sold, Balthazar is accompanied by a number of admirers but only
             he is admitted to the house. Chepe Montiel's initial reaction upon viewing
             the cage was anger, and disappointment given that Balthazar failed to
             consult him prior to manufacturing it. He refuses to pay for it telling
             Balthazar to sell it to whomever he may. Pepe is saddened at his father's
             words and reaction, throwing himself to the floor. Balthazar approaches the
             child with the cage in his arms and tells him he can keep it. "After all,
             that is what I made it for." "I made it expressly as a gift for Pepe. I did
             not expect to charge anything for it" (Page 155). When Balthazar comes back
             to the townspeople he attempts to impress them with having received a large
             sum of money in return for the cage, stating it is time to celebrate and
             buys ...