Natalya Gornopolskaya

Blog by Natalya Gornopolskaya
“The Zahir,” “The House of Asterion”

This first story describes the irrationalities of obsession. Borges was in love with a woman named Teodelina Villar. This woman was very calculated in her mannerisms, and always maintained herself as a classy and beautiful figure. The story gives the impression that she took her own life, as a result of finding herself inadequate. The story then shifts its focus to the Zahir, which is a coin among its many other meanings. Though I don’t see the connection between Teodelina Villar and the Zahir, I think it could be the coin itself that played a part in her untimely death. Borges inserts himself into the story as a man who is plagued by his obsession. I feel very bad for people who cannot grasp control over such extreme emotions. I assume the man Borges portrays in the story commits suicide as well because the coin held such a high power over him.

“The House of Asterion” is the story of a spoiled princess who chooses to isolate herself from society. She is simply a desperate soul who retreats to an immeasurable house for protection against the common folk. She doesn’t even have the patience to learn to read so that she herself could understand what poor people really have to go through. She spends her days doing nothing but frolicking in her mansion while the rest of society is hard at work for her. This princess is in dire need of a rude awakening because she is overly sheltered. My hope is that she is either overthrown or made to live as a commoner, because her attitude is just beyond reality.