Dasha: The Aleph

During the beginning of 20th century different fields of science were developing very rapidly, and it was common for philosophers of this time to question new theories and hypnosis. Philosophy of space and time was probably the most popular issue. Other questions included the uncertainty principle, metaphysics and quantum mechanics, theory of truth and logic, dualism of human mind and many others. Many of these are very well reflected in Borges’s short story the Aleph with the help of magical realism, which is very gently integrated in Borges’s work. Almost until the middle, the story feels like a very normal real life situation where a man grieves over his beloved woman. He is not ready to let go, so he visits her house every year on the day of her birthday. There is no appearance of anything mystical or magical. Although, readers can notice elements of magic realism, such as introduction of binaries that in that genre tend to blend. In the description of Beatriz, Borges describes her walk as being of a “graceful clumsiness (275).” These qualities are total opposites of each other, but blend together in this woman’s walk. Her first cousin, Carlos Argentino, is an “authoritarian and ineffectual (275).” Is it logical? Can two opposite ideas meet and connect with each other? Philosophers of that time were looking at issues of logic, so magic realism lets readers go beyond logic and look deeper at things in order to see their true substance and meaning.

The theme of duality of mind appears throughout the whole story. Writers possess a special outlook on the universe; their minds almost operate in two dimensions: one is reality and everyday life, and the second is their world of creation and inspiration. This can also be connected with magic realism, as it shows us, that people should use their imagination to explore the world. Carlos Argentino has his unique source of inspiration that comes from this place called Aleph, “one of the points in space that contain all points (280).” Borges is very reluctant to this news throughout the story, he is very skeptical; he thinks that Carlos is crazy.

The idea of time and space is extremely relative; it’s been the main question of all times. Not many can define time, but almost everybody wishes to have the ability to stop it or turn it back. Borges almost wants to protest against time in the beginning, when he claims that “the universe may change, but I shall not (275).” In magic realism the idea of space is very abstract, and it helps to develop the story starting from that point. When Borges finally faces the aleph, he realizes that everything he was told about it is true. He sees everything in this one small space, the idea of time does not apply here. Past and present blend together; there is no boundary between them. The detailed description of Aleph allows the readers’ minds to wonder around the universe with nothing to hold them behind, there are no boundaries, and imagination is a guide. That brings back the main question of philosophy about relativity of space, what is infinity and is there any frontiers to capture it? In this story infinity is captured in the small “two or three centimeters in diameter, but universal space (283).” The laws of metaphysics and quantum mechanics are questioned here. There is more to things than we seem to know, and that is very important. Science can be mistaken, and magic realism helps the readers to prove it.

It’s interesting to point out the connection between philosophical question of truth and logic and elements of magic realism in the work of Carlos Argentino. His poems represent chaos, there are no logical chains. He tries to show the truth of the world, which is important for any writer or philosopher, but at the same time describing it with new ways, new words and approaches. He uses unusual words such as “bluish, lactescent” to describe ordinary objects (279). I think these words direct the reader in the direction of magic realism, by creating the feeling of something spiritual behind those objects.