Jorge Luis Borges - Research Paper Example

The literary critics and scholars have been noticing that central concept of his works is exceptional combination of the dreams and infinity (Parker 14). Therefore, often the regular reader is confused to identify the borderline between imaginary world and reality. To say that Borges is a crafty storyteller is to say nothing of his distinctive and new approach to writing. The writer skillfully presents real life through unreality. Borges’ unusual and inventive way of writing has been described by many literary critics: In Borges, once the external world has vanished and with it, in consequence, our reality, the only secure possible mooring besides the self, the only term of the relation that is left, is irreality, which, by a simple change of sign, becomes in turn the only Borgesian reality.

Thus, then, for Borges -- and here we are threatened by paradox -- the only reality is irreality (qtd. in Balderson 2). Borges is a writer of the world class, because his works touch the themes and the issues pertaining to the whole world and his concerns are universal. There are no time or space boundaries that would limit symbolism of Borges’ invention. In his works the writer is in constant search of the universal truths. Borges transforms history into literature. In his search of the universal truths Borges crosses all imaginary borders set by history and philosophical ideas.

For example, in his short story, “The Library of Babel”, Borges is in constant quest for knowledge. Search of the truth and knowledge is metaphorically compared to the one present throughout the Bible. The writer presents confusion of humans in the infinite pull of knowledge though complex and unusual structure of library with its numerous mirrors, rows of books, and unknown number of floors (Parker 17). The story is full of mystical and symbolic figures like a book with universal truth or a librarian who cannot be