Borges and I

Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1960

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Background

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

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Discussion Questions

Character Analysis

The Narrator (“I”)

The first-person narrator, referred to as “I,” represents Borges’s inner consciousness. This character embodies the personal, emotional, and nuanced aspects of the author’s identity. “I” is intimately connected to the author’s likes, dislikes, preferences, and experiences, shaped by a lifetime of encounters with literature, art, and personal reflections. This character seeks to express the private, introspective side of the author that remains hidden from the public. “I” is the voice of Borges’s inner self, allowing him to be heard and understood. In the text, the narrator grapples with a sense of disconnection between the author’s inner and outer selves. This disconnection reflects the age-old philosophical question of identity and how it is shaped by the relationship between the individual’s public persona and their personal, inner self.

Borges

“Borges” represents the public, external persona of the author, the identity that readers and the world at large come to know. This persona is associated with the literary figure of Borges, the renowned writer. He is depicted as somewhat detached and impersonal, existing in the realm of books and writing. Although “Borges” shares likes and dislikes with the first-person narrator (the “I”), this external persona is portrayed as less complex and alive. It represents the image of Borges as a celebrity, often stripped of the depth and intricacies of his inner self.

This character dichotomy explores the challenges of conveying one’s full, authentic identity through writing (or fame in general). Borges is consistently evolving through the act of creation, leading to a sense of detachment between the author and his literary persona.

Spinoza

At the end of the story, Borges briefly mentions the Dutch Jewish philosopher Benedict (or Baruch) de Spinoza (1632–1677), who was one of the most influential thinkers of the early modern period. There are multiple philosophical views of Spinoza that Borges could be alluding to by mentioning his name.

Spinoza’s philosophy is characterized by the idea that God and nature are one and the same. He posits a pantheistic view in which God is not a separate, personal deity but an all-encompassing, immanent force in the universe. In “Borges and I,” there’s a sense of the “I” representing the inner self and “Borges” symbolizing the external, public persona. The interplay between these two aspects of the author’s identity mirrors Spinoza’s concept of the unity of all things. It suggests that both “I” and “Borges” are facets of the same unified whole—the author himself.

Spinoza’s philosophy challenges the conventional notion of individuality. He argues that individual existence is a finite expression of the infinite substance of God or nature. Likewise, Borges grapples with the paradox of his individuality. He questions whether he is truly someone or merely an idea of someone. The dual personas, “I” and “Borges,” represent this struggle, with “I” being the more intimate, personal aspect and “Borges” being the external, more abstract representation.

Spinoza’s philosophy also touches upon the idea of duality and determinism. He suggests that everything, including human actions, is determined by the necessary laws of nature. In “Borges and I,” The Narrator and Borges grapple with their roles and relationships. The story hints at a sense of determinism, where the author’s public identity is shaped by influences outside of his control such as the perceptions of others.