Borge's Asterion

In writing Asterion, Jorge Louis Borges achieves several different things. First, it shows us small origins of how myth worked during those times. Just like today, rumors and hearsay were big in the social parts of society but the only difference was that there were no social media outlets or ways to communicate besides talking in person. This would allow people more time to ponder on these passed on stories and even on purpose or by accident add a part to the legend that was not true at all. For example, Asterion stated that many people thought he was a prisoner in his own house and that all his doors were locked up so he couldn’t get out. This along with many other accusations would go on to be false, as he would go on to state and debunk each part of the myth that became him, collected stories and gossip that somehow made it to his doorstep. The second thing this story did indirectly was paint a picture of the culture from the time so we could see it. It was clear that things like writing each other letters and mingling with friends were common because Asterion was stating that he wasn’t a normal man because he didn’t do any of those things, he found hobbies like reading and writing meaningless. He even at times seems to entertain some of these myths, laughing at some of the gossip complied about him in front of the public. It probably was a brave thing to do at the time, for Asterion to come out and clear the air and admit himself being almost a cog in their system.