"There Are More Things" is a short story written by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges in 1975. It was first published in the short story collection The Book of Sand, as the collection's fourth entry. The story tells of the encounter the narrator has with a monstrous entity inhabiting an equally monstrous house. It bears the dedication "In Memory of H. P. Lovecraft"[1][2] and accordingly holds many parallels with Lovecraft's stories, employing similar plot devices.[2][3][4][5] The title alludes to Hamlet's lines "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy" (Hamlet I.5:159–167).[2]
The story has been criticized because the episode of the encounter with the monster and the house—the heart of the story—which is described in the final two or so pages, is preceded by "eight pages of complicated subplots," spoiling "a basically sound idea."[2] Borges himself was quite skeptical about his memorial to Lovecraft (as expressed in the book's epilogue), whom he in fact considered "an involuntary parodist of Poe."[6]
Plot summaryedit
The story's protagonist, while in Austin, Texas, receives the news of the death of his uncle, Edwin Arnett, in Turdera, Argentina, south of Buenos Aires.[1] Shortly after, Arnett's house is bought by a man called Max Preetorius. Preetorius immediately disposes of all the furniture and initiates a series of modifications in opposition to Alexander Muir, the architect responsible for the original design of the house and the late Arnett's best friend. The modifications are performed under unusual conditions—during the night with all the windows and doors closed.[1] In addition, all trees within the bounds of the property are cut down.[1]
The protagonist is surprised by these events, and travels to Lomas de Zamora to investigate. He asks Muir and Preetorius' carpenter about Preetorius' intentions, and about the purpose of the strange modifications. He is unable to obtain any relevant information.[1]
He soon discovers that the inhabitants of the town deliberately avoid passing near the house. One of the locals tells him that one night, as his gaze wandered across the house's garden, he "saw something."[1] It is also reported that a missing dog was found decapitated and mutilated on the lawn.[1]
One rainy night, the protagonist is caught in the storm and is forced to enter the mysterious house; the front door is unexpectedly open. Once inside, his nose immediately detects what he describes as "a sweet, sickening smell."[1]
Turning on the lights, he discovers strange, incomprehensible pieces of furniture,[2] such as a long U-shaped desk with circular holes on opposite ends and a ladder with irregularly-spaced steps.[1]
When it stops raining, the horrified protagonist decides to leave. He hears the house's occupant moving between him and the door,[2] and realizes that he will have to pass by the creature in order to exit the house. His curiosity overcomes his fear and he does not close his eyes as he does so.[1]
^ abcdefBell-Villada, Gene H. (1999). "10: Dreamtigers and later works: A tentative summation". Borges and his fiction: a guide to his mind and art. University of Texas Press. p. 263. ISBN0-292-70878-5.
^(in Spanish) Análisis de There Are More Things desde la perspectiva lovecraftiana November 22, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
^David Monroy Gómez. (in Spanish). Sololiteratura. Archived from the original on July 5, 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
^Bruce Lord (2004). "Some Lovecraftian Thoughts On Borges' "There Are More Things"". Retrieved 24 January 2011.
there, more, things, short, story, written, argentine, writer, jorge, luis, borges, 1975, first, published, short, story, collection, book, sand, collection, fourth, entry, story, tells, encounter, narrator, with, monstrous, entity, inhabiting, equally, monstr. There Are More Things is a short story written by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges in 1975 It was first published in the short story collection The Book of Sand as the collection s fourth entry The story tells of the encounter the narrator has with a monstrous entity inhabiting an equally monstrous house It bears the dedication In Memory of H P Lovecraft 1 2 and accordingly holds many parallels with Lovecraft s stories employing similar plot devices 2 3 4 5 The title alludes to Hamlet s lines There are more things in heaven and earth Horatio Than are dreamt of in your philosophy Hamlet I 5 159 167 2 There Are More Things Short story by Jorge Luis BorgesCountryArgentinaLanguageSpanishGenre s Short storyPublicationPublished inThe Book of SandMedia typePrintPublication date1975Published in English1977Pages9 Dutton 1977 ed The story has been criticized because the episode of the encounter with the monster and the house the heart of the story which is described in the final two or so pages is preceded by eight pages of complicated subplots spoiling a basically sound idea 2 Borges himself was quite skeptical about his memorial to Lovecraft as expressed in the book s epilogue whom he in fact considered an involuntary parodist of Poe 6 Plot summary editThe story s protagonist while in Austin Texas receives the news of the death of his uncle Edwin Arnett in Turdera Argentina south of Buenos Aires 1 Shortly after Arnett s house is bought by a man called Max Preetorius Preetorius immediately disposes of all the furniture and initiates a series of modifications in opposition to Alexander Muir the architect responsible for the original design of the house and the late Arnett s best friend The modifications are performed under unusual conditions during the night with all the windows and doors closed 1 In addition all trees within the bounds of the property are cut down 1 The protagonist is surprised by these events and travels to Lomas de Zamora to investigate He asks Muir and Preetorius carpenter about Preetorius intentions and about the purpose of the strange modifications He is unable to obtain any relevant information 1 He soon discovers that the inhabitants of the town deliberately avoid passing near the house One of the locals tells him that one night as his gaze wandered across the house s garden he saw something 1 It is also reported that a missing dog was found decapitated and mutilated on the lawn 1 One rainy night the protagonist is caught in the storm and is forced to enter the mysterious house the front door is unexpectedly open Once inside his nose immediately detects what he describes as a sweet sickening smell 1 Turning on the lights he discovers strange incomprehensible pieces of furniture 2 such as a long U shaped desk with circular holes on opposite ends and a ladder with irregularly spaced steps 1 When it stops raining the horrified protagonist decides to leave He hears the house s occupant moving between him and the door 2 and realizes that he will have to pass by the creature in order to exit the house His curiosity overcomes his fear and he does not close his eyes as he does so 1 References edit a b c d e f g h i j Borges Jorge 1977 There Are More Things The book of sand E P Dutton p 51 ISBN 0 525 06992 5 a b c d e f Bell Villada Gene H 1999 10 Dreamtigers and later works A tentative summation Borges and his fiction a guide to his mind and art University of Texas Press p 263 ISBN 0 292 70878 5 in Spanish Analisis de There Are More Things desde la perspectiva lovecraftiana Archived November 22 2010 at the Wayback Machine David Monroy Gomez Borges y Lovecraft There are more things in Spanish Sololiteratura Archived from the original on July 5 2009 Retrieved 24 January 2011 Bruce Lord 2004 Some Lovecraftian Thoughts On Borges There Are More Things Retrieved 24 January 2011 Borges Jorge 1977 Epilogue The book of sand E P Dutton ISBN 0 525 06992 5 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title There Are More Things amp oldid 1187344241, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
