Hypertext

"The Garden of Forking Paths" is an interesting read by Jorge Luis Borges. Aside from being a fictional narrative, it ventures into the realms of postmodernism and hypertext. For example, the short story opens in an intertextual setting, where editor footnotes are included in the story. Entirely fabricated by Borges, they create an imaginary world where reality is directed by the whim of the author. Further, the story also falls into a meta narrative setting, as the editor in the story introduces the account of another writer. Here, a story takes place within another. In addition, the narrative involves different aspects of hypertext. Although the story does not have an electronic or digital format, it is continually diverging into different realms of thought. From the narrator's musings of his father, to the present day events, to the editor's interpretations, to the mystery of the labyrinth, the story keeps evolving and changing. It offers no clear reality, but keeps moving from one fantasy to another, leaving plenty of room for readers to speculate on possibilities and outcomes. An example is found on page 23, where the narrator's observations keep readers' grappling with the setting: "The vague, living countryside, the moon, the remains of the day did their work in me; so did the gently downward road, which forestalled all possibility of weariness. The evening was near, yet infinite." In this case, time a relative, ambiguous factor; a blur of night and afternoon. Another powerful example is the section about the labyrinth, which underscores the concept of hypertext. A published novel turns into a coded message, throwing the story for another twist. Further, the labyrinth metaphor represents the turns, false clues, distractions, and tangents the work presents. As Albert, a character in the story, has to navigate Ts'ui Pen's story, Yu Tsun has to physically walk through Albert's winding garden. Similarly, readers must find their way through the Borges' bewildering and complex short story.