The Elder Lady by Jorge Luis Borges
The story revolves around an elderly woman who lives alone and has a habit of talking to herself. She often refers to her deceased husband, but it becomes clear that he is not actually dead. The narrative explores the themes of loneliness, memory, and the blurring of reality and fantasy.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1970 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Literary Fiction · 2,907 words
First lines
The Elder LadyOn the fourteenth of January, 1941, María Justina Rubio de Jáuregui was to be one hundred years old. She was the last surviving daughter of any of the soldiers who had fought in the South American War of Independence.
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is deeply rooted in historical events, specifically the South American War of Independence, and explores the life of a character connected to these events.
- Family Saga — The story spans multiple generations of a family, focusing on their history, relationships, and legacy.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is sophisticated and reflective, with a focus on character development and thematic depth.
- Drama — The narrative includes emotional and interpersonal conflicts within the family, particularly surrounding the elder lady's life and death.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Short Story Collection · Literary Experimentation · Existentialism · Absurdism · Metaphysics · Time and Space · Memory and Identity · Old Age and Mortality · Social Commentary · Psychological Insight · Symbolism
What this Textopian page supports
The Elder Lady is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1970 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: 1970 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Literary Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 2,907 words
- Structure: 1 section, 17 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Elder Lady by Jorge Luis Borges
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