The development of an individual's identity is not up to them. No matter who or what a person is, their identity is predetermined from the beginning, and that is something a person cannot change. Readers can see how identities are predetermined by looking at the lives of the phantasm/son and the protagonist/sorceror.
There are many instances in "The Circular Ruins" that shows how the sorcerer's identity is predetermined. For example, "he knew that this temple was the place that his unconquerable plan called for," (Borges 97). This man had slipped out of a boat and just so happened to land right in front of this temple, where his life goal will be bestowed upon him. This quote also suggests that the man is drawn to this temple, and that it was not just coincidence. Also, "The goal that led him on was not impossible, though it was clearly supernatural: He wanted to dream a man. He wanted to dream him completely, in painstakingly detail, and imposed him upon reality" (Borges 97). This example infers that the protagonist has specifically been made to perform this …show more content…
For instance, "he [The Sorcerer] dismissed the vast illusory classroom one and for all and retained but one pupil - a taciturn, sallow-skinned young man, at times intractable, with sharp features that echoed those of the man that dreamed him" (Borges 97). This suggests that the sorcerer had known without a doubt that this one pupil would be the person that the man would bring to life. Which means, that this pupil's purpose had already been determined. Also, "Fire ordered the dreamer to send the youth, once instructed in the rites, to the other ruined temple whose pyramids still stood downriver, so that a voice might glorify the god in that deserted place" (Borges 99). This supports the idea of predetermination because the phantasm had a predetermined purpose, which is to help Fire the
There are many instances in "The Circular Ruins" that shows how the sorcerer's identity is predetermined. For example, "he knew that this temple was the place that his unconquerable plan called for," (Borges 97). This man had slipped out of a boat and just so happened to land right in front of this temple, where his life goal will be bestowed upon him. This quote also suggests that the man is drawn to this temple, and that it was not just coincidence. Also, "The goal that led him on was not impossible, though it was clearly supernatural: He wanted to dream a man. He wanted to dream him completely, in painstakingly detail, and imposed him upon reality" (Borges 97). This example infers that the protagonist has specifically been made to perform this …show more content…
For instance, "he [The Sorcerer] dismissed the vast illusory classroom one and for all and retained but one pupil - a taciturn, sallow-skinned young man, at times intractable, with sharp features that echoed those of the man that dreamed him" (Borges 97). This suggests that the sorcerer had known without a doubt that this one pupil would be the person that the man would bring to life. Which means, that this pupil's purpose had already been determined. Also, "Fire ordered the dreamer to send the youth, once instructed in the rites, to the other ruined temple whose pyramids still stood downriver, so that a voice might glorify the god in that deserted place" (Borges 99). This supports the idea of predetermination because the phantasm had a predetermined purpose, which is to help Fire the