The Monkey of the Inkpot by Jorge Luis Borges
This work is a short story that explores the concept of identity and reality through the tale of a man who discovers a mysterious inkpot containing a monkey that can write with perfect accuracy but lacks self-awareness, highlighting the tension between creative expression and existential understanding.
By Jorge Luis Borges · First published 1957 · Genre: Fable, Fantasy, Short Story · 103 words
First lines
This animal, common in the north, is four or five inches long; its eyes are scarlet and its fur is jet black, silky, and soft as a pillow. It is marked by a curious instinct the taste for India ink. When a person sits down to write, the monkey squats cross-legged near by with one forepaw folded over the other, waiting until the task is over. Then it drinks what is left of the ink, and afterwards sits back on its haunches, quiet and satisfied.
Wang Tai-hai (1791)
What this Textopian page supports
The Monkey of the Inkpot 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: Fable, Fantasy, Short Story, Allegory, Surrealism
- Length: 103 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
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Genres
- Fable — The narrative features an animal with human-like behavior, conveying a moral or philosophical lesson.
- Fantasy — The story includes fantastical elements, such as a monkey with a peculiar taste for ink.
- Short Story — The work is concise and focuses on a single incident or character.
- Allegory — The tale can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, often moral or political.
Tags
Philosophical Fiction · Metaphysical Novel · Linguistic Playfulness · Symbolic Storytelling · Mythological Allusions · Allegorical Themes · Existential Questions · Absurdist Humor · Intellectual Satire · Literary Experimentation · Postmodernism · Fictional Realism