Theme Of Paradox In The Gospel According To Mark

In the Gospel of Mark translated by Richard Lattimore, and in Borges’ Gospel According to Mark, paradox plays a key role in understanding Jesus and Espinosa, as well as understanding the larger meaning of each story. In the original Gospel of Mark, the resolution of these paradoxes assists in persuading the reader into viewing life the same way Jesus does, through the lens of faith and eternal life. In contrast, in Borges’ Gospel According to Mark, paradox is used to encourage the reader to examine Espinosa, and therefore Jesus, more carefully. Through the unresolved inconsistencies between the two stories, Borges uses paradox to challenge the idea of blind faith, which is a core theme of the Gospel of Mark.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus

For example, Espinosa is described as having “the gift of public speaking… and an almost unlimited goodness”,(397) and soon after this, the narrator tells us that Espinosa, “was letting his beard grow out”(399). Both of these descriptions liken Espinosa to Jesus. However, Borges also paints Espinosa as having contradictory traits: “He was intelligent and open to learning...but he was lazy”(397). Espinosa’s personality is particularly paradoxical when it comes to faith: “His father, like all gentlemen of his day a free thinker had instructed Espinosa in the doctrines of Herbert Spencer, but once, before he set of...his mother asked him to say the lord's prayer every night and make the sign of the cross, and never...did he break that promise”(397). Espinosa’s father was an atheist who instructed him in the teachings of Herbert Spencer, who famously coined the term ‘survival of the fittest’. In contrast, his mother was a Christian and raised Espinosa to say the lord's prayer every day, even if he may not understand it. This conflict between science and religion within Espinosa is never resolved, and it seems to exist inconsequentially within him. Borges also draws a contrast between Jesus and Espinosa in the description of a young girl laying with Espinosa. Borges describes the girl coming

At the climax of the story when the Gutres ask Espinosa about whether those who crucified Jesus were saved, Espinosa admits that his theology is rusty, and in fact provides the wrong answer.:“‘And those who drove the nails will also be saved?’ ‘Yes’ replied Espinosa whose theology was a bit shaky”(401). The Gutres then crucify Espinosa, mistakenly believing this will bring them salvation, the Gutres are blind to the fact that they have misplaced their faith, and will not be saved. Espinosa, like Jesus is crucified, however, Borges gives no indication that Espinosa was brought back to life, or that his crucifixion brought anything meaningful to the Gutres. In the Jesus narrative, Jesus accepts his own death, and relies on faith to bring him back to life. In the Gospel of Mark, the theme of paradox functions as a way to compel one to see things the way Jesus does, while in Borges’ story, paradox exists to force the reader to examine Espinosa and therefore, Jesus more carefully. All of Jesus’ paradoxes are solved by faith, however, Espinosa’s paradoxes are never resolved, and he is crucified based on blind faith. All of this shows us that Borges believes that the idea of faith is illogical, as it can lead people