The Maker by Jorge Luis Borges
The story revolves around a man who creates a being that can create other beings, and so on ad infinitum. This leads to an infinite regression of creators and created, raising questions about the nature of creation and existence. The narrative explores the implications of this concept, delving into themes of causality, free will, and the limits of human understanding.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1953 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction · 859 words
First lines
Until then, he had never dwelled on the pleasures of memory. Impressions had always washed over him, fleeting and vivid. A potter's design in vermilion; the vault of heaven clustered with stars that were also gods; the moon, from which a lion had fallen; the smoothness of marble under one's lingering fingertips; the taste of boar meat, which he liked to strip with quick flashing bites; a Phoenician word; the black shadow cast by a spear on yellow sand; the nearness of the sea or of women; the heavy wine whose roughness he cut with honey-any of these could wholly encompass the range of his mind. He was acquainted with fear as well as with anger and courage, and once he was the first to scale an enemy wall. Eager, curious, unquestioning, following no other law than to enjoy things and forget them, he wandered over many lands and, on. one side or the other of the sea, looked on the cities of men and their palaces. In bustling marketplaces or at the foot of a mountain whose hidden peak may have sheltered satyrs, he had heard entangled stories, which he accepted as he accepted reality, without attempting to find out whether they were true or imaginary.
What this Textopian page supports
The Maker is listed on Textopian as a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, dated 1953 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: 1953 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 859 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Maker by Jorge Luis Borges
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Maker?
- How does this short story by Jorge Luis Borges fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Man On The Threshold by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Other by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Meeting by Jorge Luis Borges
- Two Metaphysical Beings by Jorge Luis Borges
- The Leveller by Jorge Luis Borges
- Ibn Hakkan Al Bokhari Dead In His Labyrinth by Jorge Luis Borges
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores themes of memory, identity, and the nature of reality.
- Fantasy — Incorporates mythological elements and fantastical imagery.
- Literary Fiction — Focuses on introspective narrative and complex character development.
- Historical Fiction — References to ancient cultures and historical settings.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Metaphysical Novel · Existentialism · Time Travel · Paradox · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis · Reality Distortion · Alternate Realities · Multiverse Theory · Futurism · Speculative Fiction