Limens and Labyrinths
In both “The House of Asteron” (Borges, 220) and “Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari, Murdered in His Labyrinth” (Borges, 255) there is a man that keeps himself in a labyrinth and the murder of that man inside the labyrinth. Both of the men in the labyrinths are looked on unfavorably in the society which they live in. Asteron claims that he is unique and the son of a queen. He “cannot mix with commoners,” (Borges, 220). Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari is the murderous king from the tribes of the desert.
Asteron is the other, reflected and reversed as in a mirror, of Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari. Asteron is a gentle soul who does not realize that he is thought of a monster. When Asteron entered the city he was as horrified of the people as they were of him. He fled the city and returned to the safety of the maze. It is a lonely existence; however, he finds no pain the solitude he faces knowing he will be freed by the redeemer. Asteron falls victim to Theseus, who Asteron believes has come as his redeemer. Asteron’s trust in wrong person proves to be a fatal mistake.
Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari is a king that has been overthrown by his people. Just as Asteron had to flee the city to seek sanctuary in his maze, Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari had to flee his county. Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari views his visor Sa’īd as a trusted companion and sleeps soundly …show more content…
The labyrinth of Asteron is a place of refuge and is the Other of the labyrinth of Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari, which is a place of murder devised by Sa’īd. Both labyrinths are also the place that the murder of Asteron and Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari take place. Asteron is murdered because he is too trusting to defend himself and Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari is murdered because he is too angry and vain to realize he has fallen into a trap. It is my belief that the inverse of the other in comparing these two stories has been made evident in this
In both “The House of Asteron” (Borges, 220) and “Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari, Murdered in His Labyrinth” (Borges, 255) there is a man that keeps himself in a labyrinth and the murder of that man inside the labyrinth. Both of the men in the labyrinths are looked on unfavorably in the society which they live in. Asteron claims that he is unique and the son of a queen. He “cannot mix with commoners,” (Borges, 220). Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari is the murderous king from the tribes of the desert.
Asteron is the other, reflected and reversed as in a mirror, of Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari. Asteron is a gentle soul who does not realize that he is thought of a monster. When Asteron entered the city he was as horrified of the people as they were of him. He fled the city and returned to the safety of the maze. It is a lonely existence; however, he finds no pain the solitude he faces knowing he will be freed by the redeemer. Asteron falls victim to Theseus, who Asteron believes has come as his redeemer. Asteron’s trust in wrong person proves to be a fatal mistake.
Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari is a king that has been overthrown by his people. Just as Asteron had to flee the city to seek sanctuary in his maze, Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari had to flee his county. Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari views his visor Sa’īd as a trusted companion and sleeps soundly …show more content…
The labyrinth of Asteron is a place of refuge and is the Other of the labyrinth of Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari, which is a place of murder devised by Sa’īd. Both labyrinths are also the place that the murder of Asteron and Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari take place. Asteron is murdered because he is too trusting to defend himself and Ibn-Hakam al-Bokhari is murdered because he is too angry and vain to realize he has fallen into a trap. It is my belief that the inverse of the other in comparing these two stories has been made evident in this