By accentuating the conflicting ancestral background that creates many woes for Juan Dahlmann, Borges stresses the repercussions of colonialism.
In order to highlight the negative effects of colonialism, Borges emphasizes the internal dissension Juan faces as a result of the antagonism between his familial background. Within the first two paragraphs of the narrative, the inner turmoil Dahlmann experiences becomes evident: “He was nauseous when he awoke in a cell that was like a dank pit… during those days Dahlmann hated every detail about himself; he hated his identity, his physical needs, his humiliation, the bristly beard on his face” (Borges 2). This physical cell Dahlmann inhabits during his treatment at the clinic is symbolic of the figurative cell that traps him because of society’s refusal to allow him to embrace both his Argentinian and Germanic heritage. Borges states that Dahlmann hated himself during this time, specifically his identity, arguably due to his inability to relish his entire self rather than just a single part. The self-hatred he feels is solely due to his uncertainty