Jorge Borges Life Seen In The Secret Miracle Essay -- Jorge Luis Borg

In 1944, Jorge Luis Borges published â€Å"The Secret Miracle†, a short story describing Jaromir Hladik, a Jew living in the Second World War. Jaromir Hladik is taken away by the Germans to a jail by the Germans to be executed shortly after. While in jail, he ponders on all the ways he could be killed and later realizes that he still has yet to finish his play â€Å"The Enemies†. He prays to God, begging for a year to be granted to him so that he can complete his last masterpiece. In a dream, he is granted that year. When the Germans pull the trigger, the world freezes for a full year so he can finish his play. At a first glance, â€Å"The Secret Miracle† appears to be merely a fictioness story. However, Borges included so much of his own life in the character of Jaromir Hladik that the story no longer seems to be so made up. â€Å"Borges writing was impelled and shaped by experience† (Williamson 296). Borges grew up loving books from the very start of hi s life. His father was always a reader, so he had a room set up like a library that housed hundreds of books. Borges also grew up in a family with colorful war history, which allowed him to be introduced to interesting stories early on. At the age of 56, he was completely blind, causing him to see literature in a different way. He no longer thought literature was a reality. For instance, he believed that although an apple is called an â€Å"apple†, it may not actually have that name. Yet he continues to write in this unreality for he feels that it is a writer’s duty to speak out against Juan Peron through literature. In spite of Borges’ belief that literature is not reality, there is evidence of Borges’ life embedded in it which clearly shape the issues and concerns of his work. Borges was always one ... ...ss, which is difficult and requires strategy to succeed. This would fit in with Borges struggle to succeed in his work. In addition, Borges states that, â€Å"No one could any longer describe the forgotten prize, but it was rumored that it was enormous and perhaps infinite† (Borges 166). This could be referring to the prize of life. Many speak of life as being grand, yet no one actually knows whether life on Earth is a prize or not. It goes on to say that Hladik does â€Å"not remember the chessmen or the rules of chess† (Borges 166). In other words, Borges no longer remembers how to live his own life. Borges was first introduced to the game of chess by his father who â€Å"presented him with mathematical theories and philosophical puzzles† (Sickels 4) while teaching him how to become a better chess player. Perhaps this was Borges’ first encounter with the philosophy of life. Jorge Borges' Life Seen In The Secret Miracle Essay -- Jorge Luis Borg In 1944, Jorge Luis Borges published â€Å"The Secret Miracle†, a short story describing Jaromir Hladik, a Jew living in the Second World War. Jaromir Hladik is taken away by the Germans to a jail by the Germans to be executed shortly after. While in jail, he ponders on all the ways he could be killed and later realizes that he still has yet to finish his play â€Å"The Enemies†. He prays to God, begging for a year to be granted to him so that he can complete his last masterpiece. In a dream, he is granted that year. When the Germans pull the trigger, the world freezes for a full year so he can finish his play. At a first glance, â€Å"The Secret Miracle† appears to be merely a fictioness story. However, Borges included so much of his own life in the character of Jaromir Hladik that the story no longer seems to be so made up. â€Å"Borges writing was impelled and shaped by experience† (Williamson 296). Borges grew up loving books from the very start of hi s life. His father was always a reader, so he had a room set up like a library that housed hundreds of books. Borges also grew up in a family with colorful war history, which allowed him to be introduced to interesting stories early on. At the age of 56, he was completely blind, causing him to see literature in a different way. He no longer thought literature was a reality. For instance, he believed that although an apple is called an â€Å"apple†, it may not actually have that name. Yet he continues to write in this unreality for he feels that it is a writer’s duty to speak out against Juan Peron through literature. In spite of Borges’ belief that literature is not reality, there is evidence of Borges’ life embedded in it which clearly shape the issues and concerns of his work. Borges was always one ... ...ss, which is difficult and requires strategy to succeed. This would fit in with Borges struggle to succeed in his work. In addition, Borges states that, â€Å"No one could any longer describe the forgotten prize, but it was rumored that it was enormous and perhaps infinite† (Borges 166). This could be referring to the prize of life. Many speak of life as being grand, yet no one actually knows whether life on Earth is a prize or not. It goes on to say that Hladik does â€Å"not remember the chessmen or the rules of chess† (Borges 166). In other words, Borges no longer remembers how to live his own life. Borges was first introduced to the game of chess by his father who â€Å"presented him with mathematical theories and philosophical puzzles† (Sickels 4) while teaching him how to become a better chess player. Perhaps this was Borges’ first encounter with the philosophy of life.