Natalya Gornopolskaya

Blog by Natalya Gornopolskaya
Borges: “Narrative Art and Magic,”

When reading this essay it is important to keep in mind that even though one may not be completely familiar with a particular reference within this essay, it is still possible to gain some understanding from it by having some previous exposure. What I acquired from reading this is that narratives become artful in the way the author can paint a picture of a fantastical element or being, such as a centaur or a siren; in a way that coincides with reality. It is the dutiful task of the author to create this balance between aspects of reality and the magical elements involved within the story in order for the reader to get a clear image of the author’s intent. Borges also provides extensive examples of magical remedies used in other cultures to emphasize the law of sympathy and how it applies to the miracles that occur in this world, through magic. In this last paragraph of the essay Borges shares his belief that a carefully put together narrative should be a sort of premonition. By this he means that each pivotal event in a story should foreshadow the next so that the story makes sense and seems less random. This essay as a whole is very informative, although it seems to follow a certain nonlinear structure in the way Borges at tends to sometimes rotate from one example to the next, and then back to his previous one. I enjoyed reading through this essay and look forward to reading the short story works of Jorge Luis Borges.