The Lamed Wufniks by Jorge Luis Borges
The story revolves around a group of men who are considered the most righteous and wise individuals in their community. They are referred to as the Lamed Vav Tzaddikim, which translates to "the thirty-six just men." These individuals are believed to be scattered throughout the world, and it is said that they are the ones who keep the world from being destroyed. The narrative follows a protagonist who sets out on a journey to find one of these righteous men. Along the way, he encounters various characters who claim to be among the Lamed Vav Tzaddikim, but ultimately, he realizes that none of them truly possess the qualities of a just man. Through this story, the narrative explores themes of morality, spirituality, and the nature of goodness. It raises questions about what it means to be righteous and whether such individuals can truly exist in a world filled with suffering and injustice.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1957 · Genre: Mystical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction · 180 words
First lines
There are on earth, and always were, thirty-six righteous men whose mission is to justify the world before God. They are the Lamed Wufniks. They do not know each other and are very poor. If a man comes to the knowledge that he is a Lamed Wufnik, he immediately dies and somebody else, perhaps in another part of the world, takes his place. Lamed Wufniks are, without knowing it, the secret pillars of the universe. Were it not for them, God would annihilate the whole of mankind. Unawares, they are our saviours.
Similar titles
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Genres
- Mystical Fiction — The narrative centers around a mystical belief involving righteous individuals who unknowingly sustain the world, a theme common in mystical fiction.
- Religious Fiction — The story draws heavily on religious themes and figures, referencing Jewish and Islamic beliefs.
- Philosophical Fiction — The text explores philosophical questions about morality, existence, and the unseen forces that govern the world.
- Short Story — The work is concise and structured as a short narrative, typical of short stories.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Literary Experimentation · Existentialism · Absurdism · Metafiction · Paradox · Linguistic Playfulness · Symbolism · Mythology · Fable · Satire · Social Commentary
What this Textopian page supports
The Lamed Wufniks is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1957 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: 1957 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Philosophical Fiction, Short Story, Speculative Fiction
- Length: 180 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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