Irony in ‘a Gospel According to Mark’

Irony in A Gospel fit in to tick off How would you feel accept somebody into your family and tout ensembleowing them to preach to you when they are not a unearthly believer themselves? As we learn much in Jorge Luis Borges fib The Gospel according to Mark we find a unique message that at that place exists some greater power in the populace that punishes those that do preach what they do not believe. Borges uses ridicule in a setting to realize the vastness of knowing what you teach and the potential, yet extreme dangers of not doing so.In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland, where he studied at the College de Geneve. The family travelled widely in Europe, including stays in Spain. On his return to Argentina in 1921, Borges began publishing his poems and essays in surrealist literary journals. His work was translated and published widely in the United States and in Europe. Borges himself was fluent in some(prenominal) languages. Borges dedicated his final work, Los Conjur ados (The Conspirators), to the city of Geneva, Switzerland, and it was there, in 1986, that he chose to die (para 2).Early in the story we get an belief for the character of Espinosa. Borges says We may describe him for now as no different to any of the many school dayboyish men of Buenos Aires, with no particular traits worthy of business other than an al to the highest degree unlimited kindness and an rhetorical faculty that had earned him several prizes from the English school in Ramos Mejia (186). Espinosa is introduced as a skilled speaker, non-confrontational, who is 33 years old. Borges describes him as having no traits worthier of note than the talent for public speaking e didnt like to conclude (186). the Nazarene was renowned for his powerful sermons, peaceful nature, and most of the information available about him let downs when he is in his thirties. However, the similarities in personality end there, because unlike Jesus, Espinosa is a freethinker, at least in name, who prefers city living. As we get deeper into the story A gospel according to mark Borges continually relates stories and similaritys in the events that leave a clear indication of Jesus and the Bible.Borges tells the exacters ,Espinosa is thirty-three with an almost unlimited kindness and a capacity for public speaking, (187) making him comparable to christ at the age of His Crucifixion, who had gained followers with his kindness and charisma. Also, Espinosa, who is detached indoors with the Gutres family after a large spring that is reminiscent of the Biblical account of Noahs Ark. Espinosa is in one case more comparable to delivery boy when he cures a pet goat with pills, an act which resembles magic to the verdant family.By creating this resemblance to Jesus, Borges manages to keep us thinking how exhaustively Espinosa is being towards the Gutres and therefore doesnt give us an opportunity to think of the events that later take place. This is all a part of creat ing the Irony of the story. Borges uses irony to make believe and intriguing story. As we are becoming more familiar with the story and the character of Espinosa we believe things are moving smoothly between him and the Gutres family. This shows when Borges characterizes the Gutres as Christs followers and writes, as if lost without Espinosa, want following him from room to room (186).From this we can obtain how they have become almost reliant on Espinosa and how much of an impact he has had on them. This is where we start to learn the key irony of the story. Espinosa is not religious and only prays before bed because of a bargain he had made to his mother. This is ironic in itself as it makes the Christ figure of the story not religious, causing the reader to believe it strange later when Espinosa begins to read to the Gutres from the Bible. Borges sets the scene later for the even greater irony than to be expected.As readers we expect Espinosa to die of a metaphorical crucifi xion, we are taken back to how precise the cobblers last of Christ is. The Gutres take the story seriously and presumet see it as the story it is provided as if it is orders from their Christ figure. When they later on berate their Christ, this reveals the greater irony of the story which is the man who calls himself a free thinker (187) and is almost ignorant towards religion is actually seen as the Christ figure fundamentally leading himself and instructing his own death by the Gutres.The lesson that is undetermined to Espinosas eyes at the end of the story as he realizes what is happening is also one taught to the reader. Both Espinosa and the reader realize, through the ironic situations of the story, the enormousness of knowing what you teach and the potential, yet extreme, dangers of not doing so. flora Cited Barnet, Sylvan, William Burto & William E. Cain. eds. An Introduction to Literature. 16th ed. New York Pearson, 2011. Print withstand name, initial of first name . Title of the article in italics. 24 Feb 2013. Date published. Placed it was published. Web. URL.