Dagger Image In The Works Of Borges

Jorge Luis Borges is a worldwide well-known Argentinian writer, whose short stories mark the beginning of the fancy novel in Latin America. However, the national identity of the literary master has been suspected by many critics in spite of his firm status in literary world. He is not wholly accepted by the Argentinian readers for the exotic flavor in his works. Approaching from the obvious and latent images of dagger in his works, this paper, through giving a detailed explanation of the images, attempts to illuminate Borges'identity as a typical Argentinian writer. The paper consists of 5 parts.In the first part, I classify the images of dagger into two categories: obvious ones and latent ones, and make clear the rough sketch of the paper, that is, to explore the Borges'potential nationality as Argentine through the analysis of the images of dagger in his works. In the second part, a close reading of Borges'texts reveals the obvious reason for the frequent occurrence of the images of dagger: the influence from his warrior ancestors, the characteristics of the Argentine, the revelation of facon, a kind of weapon carried bu gaucho, and the recollection of the people who played with dagger in Palermo near Buenos Aires. The analysis of the obvious images of dagger purports to disclose the superficial thematic focus of violence and death in Borges'works, and lays a foundation for the discussion of Borges'nationality demonstrated in his works. The third part discusses how Borges, as a master of fancy novel, uses the images of dagger to connect the reality with illusion, the real self with illusory self. And under the guidance of the obvious reason stated in part one, the illusory self is presented more by instinct. Approaching from the Freud's theory concerning the two kinds of instinct of human, this part explores the significance of the images of dagger in Borges'works, so as to shed light on the reason for the frequent occurrence of violence and death. The fourth part, from the perspective of the being changed images of bu gaucho in Argentinian literature, expounds the process of forming Argentitian nationality, the national characteristics of the images of dagger, and Borges'contribution to establishing national literature and language. By unearthing the exotic flavor and nationality of Borges'works, and putting them in the relationship of nationality and globalization, this paper thus makes it clear that Borges'literary creation is closely related to his nationality , and undoubtedly he is a typical national writer. The last part concludes with relocating Borges'status in Argentinian and world literature, and points out the analysis of the images of dagger in Borges'works not only reveals the reason for the frequent thematic focus of violence and death, but also establishes his identity as a national writer.