Axolotl

Axolotl: Short story by Julio CortázarJulio Cortázar gives away the plot of this story in the first paragraph: There was a time when I thought a great deal about the axolotls… Now I am an axolotl. The rest of the story talks about this Kafkaesque transformation, which is partial and may have only occurred in the protagonist’s mind. He (the axolotl part) sits in an aquarium tank watching himself (the unchanged part) looking in from the other side. Considering his life from this perspective seemingly builds the man’s self-esteem, and he no longer feels the need to return. Themes: loneliness, alienation, obsession, connection, enlightenment, inertia.

Continue ReadingAxolotl

The Garden of Forking Paths

The Garden of Forking Paths: Short story by Jorge BorgesThe themes of this story from Jorge Borges are order vs. disorder, time, and sacrifice. An ancient Chinese scholar gave up everything to write a book and create a labyrinth. No one could understand the book or find the labyrinth until a modern day sinologist solved the mystery. The book is the labyrinth; it argues that time is not linear, but a starting point for an infinite number of paths. A descendant of the scholar murders the sinologist. This has nothing to do with the book, but rather a cause he doesn’t believe in.

Continue ReadingThe Garden of Forking Paths

The Rememberer

The Rememberer: Short story by Aimee BenderIn this story from Aimee Bender, a man who is so sad about the world that he laments thinking about it has a wish come true. For no apparent reason he begins to experience reverse evolution, shedding millions of years a day. He regresses into an ape, then a sea turtle, and finally a small salamander, which his lover frees into the ocean. All she has left is her memories of him, which she clings to because if he’s not here, it’s her job to remember. Themes include overthinking and emotional detachment, love and caregiving, loss and remembrance.

Continue ReadingThe Rememberer

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: Short story by F. Scott FitzgeraldThis F. Scott Fitzgerald story recounts the life of a man who grows “younger” by getting “older”. Themes include identity, social standing, and self-centeredness. The major theme, identity, is explored in the context of chronological age dictating expected behavior (e.g. “young” Benjamin obliges his father by constantly breaking things, whereas his “old” body would rather be smoking cigars). The people around Benjamin care more about protecting their reputations against gossip and scandal than they do about his condition. Finally, Benjamin proves himself as heartless as they are by hiding the problem and luring an unsuspecting woman into a doomed marriage.

Continue ReadingThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Two Words

Two Words: Short story by Isabel AllendeIn this story by Isabel Allende a young woman has become famous, traveling an unnamed South American country by foot delivering news, storytelling, writing letters for people, and selling “secret” words that have magical powers. One day, a feared bandit/rebel leader forces her to write a motivating political speech to help him become president. On departing, she whispers two words in his ear. The speech is such a success he becomes the favorite to win the election. However, obsessed by the meaning of her two words, he withdraws into himself. Themes include hardship, courage and determination, loneliness, the power of words.

Continue ReadingTwo Words

Blow-Up

Blow-Up: Short story by Julio CortázarAfter a commentary on the role of perspective and the art of storytelling, this Julio Cortázar story goes on to describe how an amateur photographer captures an image that seemingly comes alive, rewriting its narrative. While taking the photograph (of an adolescent boy in an obviously uncomfortable discussion with an adult woman) he comes up with several possible interpretations of what is taking place and what may happen afterwards. Things take a dark turn when he realizes that a man in a nearby car is part of the narrative. Themes include storytelling, narrative perspective, speculation, obsession, artistic imagery vs. reality.

Continue ReadingBlow-Up

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings: Short story by Gabriel García MárquezThe major themes of this story by Gabriel García Márquez are doubt, cruelty and greed, and common reactions to those who appear strange or “different”. The treatment of the out of sorts angel and “spider girl” evoke genuine pathos and carry allusions to how some countries lock up refugees in miserable conditions and the likes of Joseph Merrick (the deformed gentleman paraded around 19th century England as The Elephant Man). The only uplifting moment comes when the innocent child climbs through a hole in the old man’s cage to play with him. Other themes include suffering, religion and the supernatural.

Continue ReadingA Very Old Man With Enormous Wings

The Invention of Morel

The Invention of Morel: Short story by Adolfo Bioy CasaresThis story by Adolfo Bioy Casares is in the form a diary by a Venezuelan fugitive who, after a hundred days hiding on a deserted Pacific island, is disturbed by what appear to be a group of tourists. He watches them for several days and becomes infatuated with a “gypsy-like” woman in the group. When he approaches her, she (and later the other tourists) act as if he doesn’t exist. In reality, it is she (and they) who don’t exist and his dying wish is to join them. Themes include isolation, love, obsession, metaphysics (illusion vs. reality), scientific hubris, immortality.

Continue ReadingThe Invention of Morel