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Symbolism in "The Secret Miracle" by Jorge Luis Borges

Jorge Luis Borges' "The Secret Miracle" is rich with symbolism, which adds depth to its exploration of existential and philosophical themes. Here are some of the key symbols in the story:

1. The Clock and Time:

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  Symbolism of Time:
  
  
  
  • Time is a central symbol in the story, representing both the constraints of human existence and the possibility of transcendence.
  
  
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    Quote: "His arithmetic of dreams was useless in this silence of a watch that would not stop" [[❞).
    
    
    
    • The halted time symbolizes a divine intervention that transcends human limitations, allowing Hladik to achieve a personal miracle within an otherwise finite existence.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • The clock's stopping represents a suspension of reality, where the usual rules of time do not apply, reflecting Hladik's inner world and his creative process.
  
  
  
  

2. The Unfinished Play ("The Enemies"):

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  Symbolism of Creativity and Legacy:
  
  
  
  • Hladik’s play symbolizes his life's work and the human desire to leave a lasting legacy.
  
  
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    Quote: "In the few days of life left to him, he would have to complete his play" [[❞).
    
    
    
    • The play represents Hladik’s struggle for artistic and existential fulfillment, highlighting the tension between human aspirations and the reality of mortality.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • The completion of the play within the stopped time symbolizes the triumph of human creativity over the limitations imposed by life and death.
  
  
  
  

3. The Year of Suspended Time:

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  Symbolism of Divine Intervention and Human Aspiration:
  
  
  
  • The miraculous year granted to Hladik symbolizes a divine grace that allows human aspirations to be fulfilled against all odds.
  
  
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    Quote: "At that moment God performed the miracle. The physical universe stopped" [[❞
    
    
    
    • This suspension of time is symbolic of the infinite possibilities that can exist within the human mind, contrasting with the finite nature of physical existence.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • It also represents a form of ultimate artistic freedom, where Hladik can perfect his creation without any external constraints.
  
  
  
  

4. The Act of Prayer:

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  Symbolism of Faith and Desperation:
  
  
  
  • Hladik’s prayer symbolizes a desperate plea for meaning and the human tendency to seek divine intervention in times of extreme crisis.
  
  
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    Quote: "God, grant me now the time to finish my work" [[❞/).
    
    
    
    • His prayer reflects a deep existential need and the hope for a miracle that transcends ordinary life.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

5. The Setting of Nazi-Occupied Prague:

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  Symbolism of Oppression and Mortality:
  
  
  
  • The historical context of Nazi occupation symbolizes the pervasive and arbitrary nature of human oppression and the omnipresence of death.
  
  
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    Quote: "On March 14, 1939, shortly after dawn, in an apartment on Zeltnergasse, Jaromir Hladik...was arrested by the secret police" [[).
    
    
    
    • This setting underscores the story's themes of existential dread and the brutal interruption of individual lives by larger, impersonal historical forces.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Conclusion:

In "The Secret Miracle," Borges uses these symbols to explore profound themes related to time, creativity, faith, and the human condition. The interplay of these symbols enriches the narrative, offering multiple layers of meaning and inviting readers to reflect on the nature of existence and the possibilities of transcendence through art and faith).