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

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