Library Of Babel

While there may be some debate as to whether the Argentinian Jorge Luis Borges was technically a Magical Realist, some may feel that his works definitely do have some of the characteristics of what is considered Magical Realistic literature. Among his various types of works are poetry, essays, fantasies, and short fictions. Often referred to in essays that discuss the history and theory of Magical Realism, "The Garden of Forking Paths" is probably Borges' most popular short story. Published in 1964 in a collection of Borges works entitled Labyrinths: Selected Stories & Other Writings, his short story "The Garden of Forking Paths" appears to have several of the elements of Magical

In both “Bartleby the Scrivener” and “Young Goodman Brown”, we find themes and characteristics of “Dark Romanticism”. They represent characters who do not completely know what the most right thing to do is. But what both these works do is create an urge in the reader to wish for perfection. These two stories are more like bridges to transcendentalism. Even though the dark romanticism period in the New England led by Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville and Emily Dickinson did not fully embrace transcendentalism, these two stories particularly leave the reader wanting and pondering more. The human mind works in a complex way and it has to be prepared for certain things to emerge. These two stories serve as a mirror that will help us to look within us for something more divine, that will help us find a greater understanding of what we ought to do.

When I took off the top to that white box on that calm Sunday night, I was instantly transported into this astounding library, that seemed to come out of a movie scene, rows upon rows were piled up with Verne’s, Dumas’, Stevenson’s, and Melville’s. Each week I would open this box and choose a new book. It wasn’t long until weeks turned to days, and I began to greedily treasure my Stevenson’s, truly value friendship with Dumas, prepare for an adrenaline rush with Verne, but most importantly, it was my single Melville that brought me the pinnacle of happiness.

By using the first-person present tense—I am here; you are not—and guarding specific scenes and emotions, Levi actively distances readers from his narrative. This, the book tells its readers, is not your narrative; you are not characters in this story. As readers, we are forced to recognize that we do not speak Levi’s language; we do not know what it truly means to be “cold,”

As literature continues to evolve throughout the ages, human experience remains a purpose that novelists cease to abandon regardless of the century. Haruki Murakami’s The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and Dante Alighieri’s Inferno each disclose a meticulous narrative that elaborates on such human experiences through the recurring theme of understanding and accepting the idea of suffering. While Alighieri’s Inferno takes on a physical journey through a Hell that he represents as a city, Murakami assumes a psychological and abstract mindset while writing the metaphysical journey in The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Through the particular writing styles of each author, the extensive application of symbolism, and the unique setting of each protagonist, both authors contribute to the meaning of their books whether it be a psychological or physical approach.

For that matter, their gods, vivid images of humanity, are imperfect as well. As we read through the compilation of episodes of god-men interactions in the translated version of the Odyssey by Robert Fitzgerald, we wonder whether these imperfect gods govern over humans. If so, to what extent? Is the human fate sealed by human actions, sealed by god intervention or a mixture of

In “The South,” Borges establishes ambiguity by dropping subtle textual hints that would ultimately allow for the reader to attain

If I'm on the way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera.” This not only makes the reader question his ability to narrate without bending the truth with ease, however, it guides us to believe that we cannot trust him due to his ability to alter any problematic situations that might make him look like a bad guy in any sort of form. This is very bothersome, as the reader already knows about this narrators mischievous tactics that make light shine on him while throwing others under the bus into dark

The personalities of the gods are as broad as there are stars in the heavens, and as such the ways that these gods interact with mortals vary. The purpose of gods intervening with the days of man comes down to two things, good or bad; there are gods who are caring and loving towards mortals while others view man as pawns which they can use for their own personal agenda. A few gods that capture and exemplify the various personalities of the gods can be found in Ovid: The Metamorphoses of Ovid and Homer: The essential Homer: Selections from the Iliad and the Odyssey. Although the ways man and the gods communicate and get each other’s attention are different, there are reoccurring and overarching themes such as desire, and loyalty that make each intervention between gods and mortals similar.

Books, the direct object that mirrors various states of human mind, also play a significant role in Luis Borges’ works. Characters of the books in the two stories are contrasted to one another. While the Chinese labyrinth book of Ts'ui Pen, that is Dr. Yu Tsun’s ancestor, delivers the core message of “The Garden of Forking Paths,” it is a Christian bible commentary by St. Mark that leads the story to the hideous ending in “Gospel According to Mark.” Despite each representing different cultures, the both books connote the same: the unexplored non-European mental world. English Dr. Albert, whom Dr. Yu Tsun visits to kill for his mission, tells his new interpretation about the book of the ancestor of Dr. Yu Tsun. Labyrinth pictured in the book

“The House of Asterion,” by Jorge Luis Borges, presents a creative take on the ancient Greek myth of the Minotaur. While the original tells the tale of Theseus defeating the Minotaur, that is switched in “The House of Asterion.” Instead, the reader finds a queer character give a monologue about the house he lives in and basically his life as a whole. The protagonist and antagonist roles flip. Making a unique and thought-provoking story that perhaps persuades readers to rethink common roles of “good” and “evil.”

In Jorge Luis Borges’ short story “The Library of Babel”, the author depicts the entire universe in the form of a mysterious and intricate “Library.” The author gives life to the library by describing the fruit- like “bulbs” that emit light, as well as a vestibule which contains two compartments for “sleeping and satisfying one’s physical necessities.” (Borges 112) This library is lined with “an infinite number of hexagonal galleries,”(Borges 112) containing bookshelves with an immeasurable amount of books. However, most of these books are indecipherable, and therefore, meaningless. Borges’ characterization of the library leads the reader to believe that he is alluding to the numerous books of the Bible. He questions the Bible’

In the poems “The Wanderer” and “The Dream of the Rood,” anonymous authors give way to the idea that an Almighty God will solve every problem a person has by doing two things: 1) drawing upon the memories of a warrior who has lost everything near and dear to him due to war, and 2) entering the dream of a man who has been exiled and isolated. Each piece takes its reader through the trials and tribulations that one may not relate to in this era, yet the reader is still there alongside the character wanting them to find peace with their world and themselves. Initially, it is believed that the characters will overcome their hardships and achieve the happiness they seek. However, as the reader delves deeper into the character’s story, there is an overwhelming sense of incompleteness. What actually happens at the end of each piece is not written in stone - telling us the story is not whole - nor has a conclusion been reached. The intrapersonal thoughts being shared with the reader reveal the obstacles that keep an overall wholeness from occurring.

Prompt: Worlds of fantasy/ dreams/ imagination are incorporated by Borges in his fictions, explain how he does this and what effect it has?

The infinite is a concept that is difficult for man to comprehend, yet in Jorge Luis Borges’ short story “The Garden of Forking Paths” he does such a fantastic job of describing this idea of infinity and its effect on mankind through his explanation of a labyrinth. This short story also can be used as somewhat of a lens while reading Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Borges’ story begins with frame narrative but both stories are, for the most part, told from a first person point of view. This aspect of point of view is very helpful in supporting the idea of infinite possibilities and infinite universes. By writing their stories from a first person point of view Bechdel and Borges give their readers a glimpse into the idea that each action, however little that action or decision may be, always has a reaction that can alter the outcome of a persons’ life drastically. Each action, can have different outcomes that essentially leads to infinite outcomes in other universes.