The Aleph - Response


   Jorge Luis Borges’ short story The Aleph is an attempt at the impossible – to describe what can’t be explained with language. In a sense, this story achieves the unachievable by illustrating the shortcomings of language in describing the illusive “Aleph”. As I read, I found myself highlighting the many oxymorons I came across, and it was only until I finished the story that I connected these to the oxymoronic nature of the story itself; The Aleph cannot be recounted with language because of its ineffable nature. This failure to articulate infinity and non-sequential time ultimately ties back to the human experience of mourning as described in the introduction of the story, and largely lends itself to ideas similar to metaphysical solipsism.

   I thoroughly enjoyed this reading, and I plan on looking into Jorge Luis Borges' other work. I find the way in which he was able to intertwine large philosophical concepts and notional ideas to the human experience very interesting and successful.

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