Introduction to Jorge Luis Borges
Born on August 24, 1899, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Jorge Luis Borges displayed prodigious talent from a very young age. By the age of four, he could read and write; at six, he penned his first short story, “La visera fatal,” inspired by Don Quixote. By seven, he drafted an essay on Greek mythology in English; at nine, he translated Oscar Wilde’s “The Happy Prince” into Spanish.
Borges’ literary contributions are undeniably significant, transcending traditional classifications and resisting criticism. His work continues to captivate readers, sparking curiosity about his life and oeuvre. Despite the abundance of discussions on Borges, many still choose to ignore his work due to perceived complexity, lack of interest in poetry, sleepiness, dislike for Argentinians, or sheer laziness.
The Allure of Borges’ Literature
Augusto Monterroso, in his book “Movimiento Perpetuo,” beautifully describes encountering Borges: “When I discovered Borges in 1945, I didn’t understand him and was initially taken aback. Seeking Kafka, I stumbled upon his introduction to ‘The Metamorphosis’ and was first confronted with his world of metaphysical labyrinths, infinities, eternities, trivial tragedies, and domestic relations akin to the best-imagined hell.”
Borges’ “El Aleph” is often cited as the quintessential work to begin with, symbolizing the gathering of all existence and offering a key to understanding the universe. Yet, Borges himself remained indifferent to such interpretations, believing that naming things with words was insufficient as “the whole” was ungraspable.
Borges’ Perspective on Words and Descriptions
In a conference, Borges addressed the topic of his partial blindness and how he managed to describe lights and nuances despite it. He shared, “During my numerous, perhaps too many, conferences, I’ve noticed a preference for the personal over the general, the concrete over the abstract. So, I’ll start by referring to my modest blindness.”
Borges had total blindness in one eye and partial blindness in the other, still able to distinguish some colors, especially yellow. He reminisced about his childhood fascination with the tiger and leopard cages in Palermo’s zoo, captivated by their gold and black hues. He wrote a poem titled “El oro de los tigres” about this enduring friendship with the color yellow.
Key Questions and Answers
- Why is Borges’ work so significant? Borges’ literary contributions are undeniably substantial, transcending traditional classifications and resisting criticism. His work continues to captivate readers, sparking curiosity about his life and oeuvre.
- What is Borges’ perspective on naming things with words? Borges believed that naming things with words was insufficient as “the whole” was ungraspable. He thought that only partial reports of things were possible.
- How did Borges describe his blindness? In a conference, Borges described his modest blindness, having total blindness in one eye and partial blindness in the other. Despite this, he could distinguish some colors, especially yellow.
