Abstract
This essay examines the influence of William Butler Yeats's conception of history in his poem, "Nineteen Hundred and Nineteen," on the rhetorical figure of the labyrinth, the negotiations between history and memory and the inspiration of Nietzsche's philosophy of language on two stories from Jorge Luis Borges's 1944 collection, Artificios. It begins by examining the lines from Yeats's poem that comprise the epigraph to Borges's "Theme of the Traitor and the Hero," and goes on to propose that Yeats's conception of memory as catachrestic, particularly the notion of a "great memory" which he borrows from Shelley, was a central influence on Borges's thoughts on authorship, language and history. By focusing on Borges as a reader of Yeats, this essay lends a degree of literary depth to discussions that link Artificios to the influence of Friedrich Nietzsche's 1873 essays. It also lends a more detailed analysis to the relationship between Borges and Irish modernism.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
