The Bribe by Jorge Luis Borges
The story revolves around a man who is offered a bribe to kill someone he has never met. He accepts the offer and sets out to complete the task, but his actions are thwarted by a series of events that ultimately lead to his own downfall. The narrative explores themes of fate, free will, and the consequences of one's actions. The story raises questions about the nature of morality and whether it is possible for individuals to truly change their circumstances through their choices. Throughout the narrative, the protagonist's thoughts and feelings are presented in a detached and matter-of-fact manner, which serves to underscore the sense of inevitability that pervades the story. The Bribe is a philosophical exploration of the human condition, one that challenges readers to consider the complexities of morality and the role of chance in shaping our lives.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1955 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Academic Fiction · 2,506 words
First lines
The BribeMy story is about two men or, rather, about an episode involving two men. The actual affair, in itself neither singular nor even out of the ordinary, matters less than the character of its protagonists. Each of them sinned out of vanity, but in different ways and with different results. The events giving rise to the anecdote (for really it is not much more) took place a short time ago. To my mind, it could only have happened where it did in America.
What this Textopian page supports
The Bribe is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1955 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Jorge Luis Borges
- Date: 1955 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Academic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 2,506 words
- Structure: 1 section, 21 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Bribe by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Bribe?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Unworthy Friend by Jorge Luis Borges
- A Double For Mohammed by Jorge Luis Borges
- Juan Murana by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Double by Jorge Luis Borges
- Guayaquil by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Intruder by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, moral dilemmas, and the intricacies of human behavior, typical of literary fiction.
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores themes of ethics, vanity, and identity, engaging with philosophical questions about human nature and morality.
- Academic Fiction — The setting and plot revolve around academic life, scholarly pursuits, and university politics, characteristic of academic fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The narrative delves into the psychological motivations and internal conflicts of the characters, a hallmark of psychological fiction.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Existentialism · Absurdism · Mystery · Psychological Insight · Social Commentary · Cultural Critique · Satire · Paradox · Duality