Imagery In Jorge Borges 'In Praise Of Darkness'

Have you ever felt the need to share your problems to make people understand what you’re going through? In Latin American literature, blindness is illustrated as a theme with the use of imagery. The three most frequent types of imagery that are used include: visual, audible, and tactile. Especially in Jorge Borges’ short stories and poems, descriptive language is used to convey the reoccurring theme of blindness.
Visual imagery is the most common type of imagery that is used in Borges’ writing. The author tries to connect to the audience by using visuals to explain his thoughts and get his point across. He tries to get the audience to imagine what he conceptualizes in his head. In the poem “In Praise of Darkness”, Borges explains how his

“friends have no faces” (Borges 354); moreover, the author is blind and incapable of seeing his friends’ faces. Abnormal occurrences take place in Latin American literature to emphasize what the author is focusing on. The author tells of something unusual to what people who aren’t blind can see. Once again, Borges tells of how “there are no letters on the pages of books” to show how he pictures objects to be (Borges 354). Borges isn’t able to read due to his blindness. He tries to mentally visualize himself to make him feel contented; particularly, the author pictures himself being sightless. He describes himself as “a young man, but who did not sit up or talk, who was unable to open his eyes” (Borges 349). This part in the story gives a description of Borges dreaming of the blind man. Like visual imagery, audible imagery helps the reader deeply understand events in writing.
Borges includes description that pertains to the sense of hearing, which is also known as audible imagery.

Sounds are commonly described to relate to what the audience usually hears in their lifetime. This emphasizes on Borges being a normal person, just without sight. As he was dreaming “he was awakened by the inconsolable shriek of a bird” (Borges 348). This man could only hear and not see the obnoxious bird. Borges mentions certain sounds being helpful to deal with his blindness. He tries to see the silver lining of his depressing condition. He mentions in his poem “In Praise of Darkness” how he eventually finds his purpose in life from following paths, and “those paths were echoes and footsteps” (Borges 354); furthermore, the paths lead him to his acceptance of being blind. He mentions how different his world is compared to people with vision. The author’s perceptions have worsened, so he describes his condition through audible imagery. In his short story “The Circular Ruins” he explains how “his perceptions of the sounds and forms of the universe became somewhat pallid” (Borges 348); additionally, objects and sounds are feeble to him now. Tactile imagery functions similar to audible imagery to create description in

writing.
Tactile imagery pertains to physical textures or the sense of touch to help readers get an idea of what the author is saying. It creates descriptive sentences that help expose the theme of blindness. Borges uses words that express his internal and external feelings. A man in “The Circular Ruins” couldn’t see the “blades which were lacerating his flesh” because he was blind (Borges 347). The man didn’t see the horrific pain coming, and the readers can imagine how bad it must feel. The author describes what makes the man joyful, since he is usually depressed. He mentions the feelings one gets from excitement. The man knew dreaming made him visualize objects and people, so “he dreamed almost immediately, with his heart throbbing” (Borges 348). The man obtained delighted feelings when he dreamt of having the capability of seeing. Anger is represented through imagery and results in hurt; furthermore, Borges gives examples of getting hurt due to blindness. As Borges thought more and more about his condition “tears of anger burned his old eyes” (Borges 349). The author developed animosity from becoming blind. Tactile, along with other types of imagery, expresses the theme of blindness throughout Borges’ writing.
All throughout the short story and poem written by Jorge Borges, his blindness was developed as a major theme. Borges accomplishes this by using visual, audible, and tactile imagery. This shows what conflict he has to live with, but it also reveals how strong of a person he has become. Overall, blindness is referred to as a problem and a gift. With the help from the descriptions given by imagery, what do you refer blindness as?