In Borges’s story Library of Babel one can find many connections that are not visible if you don’t pay attention to little details. The essential theme throughout the whole story is infinity and space. The start is very strong, Borges states that library is essentially the universe and it’s infinite: ‘’…composed of an indefinite perhaps infinite number of hexagonal galleries (112).” It is a very important aspect of magic realism - the existence of parallel universes where boundaries between them do not exist. In this story they are blended with the help of stairs. In this endless library people are searching for books that have powers, that have special meaning, and they hold the truth. Even though all books look the same from the outside, they are different inside. By looking deeper in search for truth, Borges shows another aspect of magic realism - the necessity of profound inquiries that allow you to see the mystical and spiritual side of an object. No wonder why, if you find this one special book and discover its meaning, you become equivalent to God.
I think there is a connection between the idea of library, the universe, and the name of Babel. Borges was fascinated with Hebrew language, and Babel stands for Babylon in this language. People always wonder about the purpose of existence, about true origin; there is always ongoing search for truth. Where people go when they need answers for any questions? The centers of knowledge are libraries. Maybe that’s why Borges describes the universe in the form of a library; it’s a place where many questions need to be answered. The quest for truth and purpose revolves around the city of Babylon. It was a religious city where confused people found the strength to unite despite of differences, and build the tower of Babylon. These people were looking for something greater just like people in this story are looking for something meaningful; they are looking for powerful books.
It seems that it was very meaningful for Borges to develop idea of quest, because at that time Philosophers around the world were concerned with two theories: existentialism and self-deception. Borges mentions self-deception a couple of times. First is when he is talking about a mirror in the vestibule of the library. Throughout the history mirrors were viewed as something mystical like a passage to another world, almost evil. Here it plays more of deception role trying to capture the space and prove that library is not infinite:”Men often infer from this mirror that the Library is not infinite – if it were what need would there be for that illusory replication (112).” The second idea of deception appears when Borges comes to the conclusion that there are limited combinations of letters in the books, so there can’t be infinite number of books, considering that in each gallery “each bookshelf holds thirty-two books identical in format”, but none of the content is the same (113). Is there an end somewhere in the library? That’s where important binaries in magic realism start to fade, the binary between past, present and future, and the binary between fantasy and reality. Borges finds solution the dilemma and pronounces that: “The library is unlimited but periodic (118).” All these parallel universes or galleries exist side by side, and at some point they repeat themselves in patterns just like time goes through cycles, but it all happens at the same time.
In the work of Borges the idea of chaos is very common. At the first sight it seems that library is a very peaceful place; it is very organized and neat. People wonder around and look for books. If you look deeper (again the idea of magic realism and true substance of things), some of the books have very chaotic content: “senseless cacophony, verbal nonsense, and incoherency (114).” People, who can’t find meaning in books, commit suicides. Not everybody can find the truth, it is very hard. Readers see a very thin line between the harmony and disaster. Borges talks about how “epidemics, heretical discords” destroy the population, but at the same time he talks how library is “incorruptible, secret and solitary (118).”
I think that idea of existentialism is represented in the statement that “library is total”. Existentialism questions the true nature of things; it questions human mind, behavior and actions. Many agree with an idea that the world is perfect the way it is. Everything is interconnected, justified and complete, “all – the detailed history of the future”, and Borges is trying to show it to readers by leading them through this labyrinth of existence (115).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Revised Blog (Part 1)
ReplyDeleteIn Borges’s story Library of Babel one can find many connections that are not visible if you don’t pay attention to little details. The essential theme throughout the whole story is infinity and space. The start is very strong, Borges states that library is essentially the universe and it’s infinite: ‘’…composed of an indefinite perhaps infinite number of hexagonal galleries (112).” It is a very important aspect of magic realism - the existence of parallel universes where boundaries between them do not exist. In this story they are blended with the help of stairs. In this endless library people are searching for books that have powers, that have special meaning, and they hold the truth. Even though all books look the same from the outside, they are different inside. By looking deeper in search for truth, Borges shows another aspect of magic realism - the necessity of profound inquiries that allow you to see the mystical and spiritual side of an object. No wonder why, if you find this one special book and discover its meaning, you become equivalent to God.
I think there is a connection between the idea of library, the universe, and the name of Babel. Borges was fascinated with Hebrew language, and Babel stands for Babylon in this language. People always wonder about the purpose of existence, about true origin; there is always ongoing search for truth. Where people go when they need answers for any questions? The centers of knowledge are libraries. Maybe that’s why Borges describes the universe in the form of a library; it’s a place where many questions need to be answered. People are usually not only very curious creatures but also quite obsessive when it comes to power and recognition. The quest for authority revolves around the city of Babylon as well. It was a religious city where people united and decided to build a tower that can reach the heaven. They did it not to worship their god, but to make a stand, show their strength, abilities and influence. These people were looking for something greater than just equality; they wanted to make themselves significant, just like people in this story are looking for something meaningful; they are looking for powerful books that can make them equivalent to God.
(Part 2)
ReplyDeleteIt seems that it was very meaningful for Borges to develop idea of quest, because at that time Philosophers around the world were concerned with two theories: existentialism and self-deception. Borges mentions self-deception a couple of times. First is when he is talking about a mirror in the vestibule of the library. Throughout the history mirrors were viewed as something mystical like a passage to another world, almost evil. Here it plays more of deception role trying to capture the space and prove that library is not infinite:”Men often infer from this mirror that the Library is not infinite – if it were what need would there be for that illusory replication (112).” The second idea of deception appears when Borges comes to the conclusion that there are limited combinations of letters in the books, so there can’t be infinite number of books, considering that in each gallery “each bookshelf holds thirty-two books identical in format”, but none of the content is the same (113). Is there an end somewhere in the library? That’s where important binaries in magic realism start to fade, the binary between past, present and future, and the binary between fantasy and reality. Borges finds solution the dilemma and pronounces that: “The library is unlimited but periodic (118).” All these parallel universes or galleries exist side by side, and at some point they repeat themselves in patterns just like time goes through cycles, but it all happens at the same time.
In the work of Borges the idea of chaos is very common. At the first sight it seems that library is a very peaceful place; it is very organized and neat. People wonder around and look for books. If you look deeper (again the idea of magic realism and true substance of things), some of the books have very chaotic content: “senseless cacophony, verbal nonsense, and incoherency (114).” People, who can’t find meaning in books, commit suicides. Not everybody can find the truth, it is very hard. Readers see a very thin line between the harmony and disaster. Borges talks about how “epidemics, heretical discords” destroy the population, but at the same time he talks how library is “incorruptible, secret and solitary (118).”
I think that idea of existentialism is represented in the statement that “library is total”. Existentialism questions the true nature of things; it questions human mind, behavior and actions. Many agree with an idea that the world is perfect the way it is. Everything is interconnected, justified and complete, “all – the detailed history of the future”, and Borges is trying to show it to readers by leading them through this labyrinth of existence (115).