Borges' the Lottery in Babylon Term Paper

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Not only that, people themselves, who have initially established the game, are starting to question the real essence of such game in their lives.

Theme

Lottery = Chances

There are two dominant themes in this story. These themes are in the form of metaphor that one needs to assess the deeper meaning before he/she can grasp the real meaning. First is about lottery. Lottery represents chances. As it is stated in the story, the people are so fond in playing the lottery. This just implies that the people tend to put everything to chances.

People are not very sure of what will happen and what decisions to make, hence they just trust what their instinct tells.

The changes in the rule of the game along with the additional rules as to who and who are not allowed to play the game just imply that as people become so used to playing chances, the experiences and other acquired knowledge and skills of man eventually affects the way people decide. In the end, when the people suddenly starts questioning the lottery and its real essence, this implies that people are suddenly questioning the way they trusts their instincts and the way they put their life to chances.

This is a sign that people are suddenly growing and maturing intellectually. But in the story, the readers are left hanging as to what to believe in, whether to remain on taking chances or not to.

Company = God

In the story the word Company has been mentioned particularly at the last two paragraphs. In this part, it has been stated that the company runs the lottery.

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It is the one who decides what to do with the winners and with the losers. It is the one who decides how to play the game.

The company is just a symbol for God. The narrator then is telling that as the people are so fond in taking chances, there is one God who sees to it all and decides on what's the best course of action and the best result for each and everyone. However, when the people starts questioning and doubting the efficacy of taking chances, this also shows that the people are doubting the capabilities of the Company (of God) to do His duties.

In the end, as the narrator states that "the Company never existed and never will" (Collected Fictions, 1998) this only shows that the narrator itself is, like the people, doubting if there really is a God that sees to everything. The people and the narrator then doubts if it right to continue playing with chances and to continue believing with God, even if they are not sure if God truly exists.

Conclusion

The Lottery in Babylon" is full of symbolism and metaphors. However, one thing is for sure, like most of the writings of Borges', this story talks about the people's way of life and the essence of believing to God. It is very evident in the story that the author has some apprehensions about they way people put faith in God and letting Him do all the works. Needless to say, Borges would like to point out that how can people trust God if nobody can even prove that he does exists......

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