Borges and I

“I know of Borges from the mail and see his name on a list of professors or in a biographical dictionary.”

Borges, as the author, conveys that he encounters his external persona in the tangible realm. The sight of his name inscribed on a piece of mail or within the pages of another book brings to life aspects of himself that the world acknowledges. His inner self remains confined to his thoughts and recollections, and when it materializes in the physical world, it seamlessly merges with the external persona of “Borges.”

“I live, let myself go on living, so that Borges may contrive his literature, and this literature justifies me.”

Borges emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between his inner and outer selves, with his literature being a vital component of his existence. Borges elaborates on the notion that his persona is closely associated with his writing. While his inner identity is the source of his creativity, the tangible output of that creativity becomes an integral component of his external self. When his creative ideas materialize in the form of a story or an essay, they are integrated into his persona. This intricate fusion, Borges contends, is both paradoxical and indispensable. The paradox lies in the fact that once creativity takes its external form, it relinquishes its connection to the originating source. Nevertheless, Borges discerns an inherent validation and justification in the act of creation. His literary work not only justifies his existence but also imparts significance to his persona, even as he grapples with the feeling that it is detached from his inner self.

“It is no effort for me to confess that he has achieved some valid pages, but those pages cannot save me, perhaps because what is good belongs to no one, not even to him, but rather to the language and to tradition.”

This quote underscores Borges’s belief that once his ideas are on the page, they no longer belong to him. They rather belong to the wider literary world, integrated into the canon that likewise inspires him and his work. Similarly, with each story published, Borges loses some control over how he is perceived, with his literary persona being constantly constructed and reevaluated by his readers.

“I shall remain in Borges, not in myself (if it is true that I am someone), but I recognize myself less in his books than in many others or in the laborious strumming of a guitar.”

This quote touches on the idea of existence and suffering in the pursuit of a meaningful purpose, reflecting Borges’s contemplation of his literary endeavors. While others define Borges by his creative output, he sees himself as the sum of his inspirations. These include others’ books, implying that all other authors undergo this same existential dilemma. Additionally, Borges compares himself to an inexpertly played guitar, asserting that one can be defined by something other than their area of expertise.

“Everything belongs to oblivion, or to him.”

Borges explores the notion of legacy and existence beyond death, suggesting that only a fragment of one’s identity remains in the public consciousness. Most of what makes up a person dies when the person does, and only the culturally constructed idea of the author lives on.