Discussion of The Struggles of The Inner World in "Borges and I" Story

Introduction

Jorge Luis Borges, in an attempt to bridge the gap between the inner mind and outer perception in his essay “Borges & I,” narrates from the first-person perspective of his own private thoughts. His own personal being, denoted with the name “Borges,” foils the narrator and describes how the outside world perceives him. This outside perception is composed of many different facets, whether it be his actions and subsequent judgments thereof, or external discernments of his work. The inner mind is composed of only Borges’ personal thoughts.

The Duality of Inner and Outer Perceptions

The duality arises from the idea that public opinion influences one’s private thoughts. One’s inner mind enters a circumstance with preconceived judgment, opinions that have become essential; however, this judgment may proceed to be influenced by the circumstance. The so-called “Borges” is the entity that actually goes through life, but it is the narrator’s job to create and modify itself. The tension between these two selves highlights the struggle of maintaining one's authentic identity amidst societal expectations.

Influence of External Perceptions

Any modifications made to his private opinions are impaired and twisted by the outside perceptions of Borges’ life. The inner mind itself identifies with integral interests, such as hourglasses and the prose of Stevenson, which Borges too shares, “but in a vain way that turns them into the attributes of an actor,” thus ruining the integrity of the identity. Borges’ private mind is implying that all of these interests that are essential to him are masked by the inevitable narcissistic qualities that apply to a man and his relations with the outside world. These interests are made more for appearances as a conversation piece instead of being innately part of one’s private thoughts. This is due in part to the human’s everlasting desire to live in concurrence with society as opposed to living solely for one’s self.

The Illusion of Societal Approval

This inevitable human inclination to find approval amongst society creates a false mist between what the rest of the world sees and what is actually occurring within a mind. Borges’ private mind turns this into words stating, “Thus my life is a flight and I lose everything and everything belongs to oblivion, or to him” (Borges, 1964). His mind understands that within society it is impossible for a private thought to hold any purchase on the greater essence of the world. People only remember what is written down in history books or vernacularly passed down long lines of a generation, all perceptions from outside the mind. This lack of recognition of personal thought often leads to wholly misunderstood individuals, which, in turn, furthers an underlying issue that the consciousness may be coping with.

The Struggles of the Mind

The mind is a slave to language. The mind struggles against itself. Every moment of every day the brain processes an infinite amount of thoughts, all tied exclusively to a primary language. These thoughts can be inspiring, causing a drive within the subject to pursue greatness. These thoughts can be unproductive, causing an endless loop of worthless ideas, neither positive nor negative. These thoughts can be destructive and self-berating to the point of insanity. They suffocate, besiege, and corrupt every notion of worthiness one may have of themselves. Furthermore, the struggle is exacerbated by the constant pressure to translate these complex inner emotions into words that can be understood by the outside world, thus often failing to capture their true essence.

Conclusion

In Borges' narrative, the struggle between the inner self and the outer persona is vividly depicted, illustrating the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a world dominated by external perceptions. This duality reflects a universal human experience, inviting readers to reflect on their own internal conflicts and the impact of societal expectations on their personal identities.

References

Borges, J. L. (1964). Borges and I. In Dreamtigers. University of Texas Press.