A Journey Through Borges' Short Story, The Garden of Forking Paths

Welcome to my series on The Art of the Short Story: 52 Great Authors, Their Best Short Fiction, and Their Insights on Writing by Dana Gioia and R.S. Gwynn. This anthology offers not only extraordinary stories but also a rare glimpse into the minds of their creators. In this series, I’ll delve beyond simple reviews to explore the themes, techniques, and enduring relevance of these works, reflecting on how they illuminate the art of storytelling. Whether you’re a reader, writer, or lover of short fiction, I hope these discussions deepen your appreciation for these literary treasures.

The Garden of the Forking Paths - Jorge Luis Borges

Jorge Luis Borges has a way of taking big, mind-bending concepts and wrapping them up in stories that are just a few pages long but leave you thinking for days. The Garden of Forking Paths is no exception. This philosophical exploration of time, choice, and reality is one of Borges’s most fascinating works. Written in 1941, on the surface, it’s the story of a spy during World War I, but it quickly unfolds into a multi-layered narrative that challenges how we think about existence itself. It’s the kind of story that makes you pause and rethink everything—especially how the decisions you make in the present shape your reality.

I read this story in The Art of the Short Story: 52 Great Authors, Their Best Short Fiction and Their Insights on Writing. I’m trying to become a better writer, and as part of that journey, I started practicing copywork. I’d come across an app that introduced me to the concept, and after some research, I decided to do it the old-fashioned way instead. After all, Hunter S. Thompson and Jack London, who reportedly used this method, didn’t use an app, and if I’m going to learn, I want to learn from the best, the same way they did it.

That said, let’s dive into The Garden of Forking Paths and explore why it’s a story that remains as engaging and thought-provoking today as when it was first published.

The Labyrinth of Time: Borges’ Vision of Infinite Choices

One of the most striking aspects of The Garden of Forking Paths is Ts’ui Pên’s idea of the labyrinth. But this isn’t your typical maze—it’s a metaphor for time itself. Instead of a single, linear path, time is presented as a web of infinite possibilities, where every decision spawns new branches, each leading to a different outcome. You have to imagine a map where every fork represents a choice. Every path exists simultaneously. It's a lot to consider and incredibly mind-blowing, right?

I love authors that refer to other authors and books as Borges does in the story. It adds another layer to his work where these references blur the lines between fiction and reality, making the story feel like a living part of a much larger literary conversation. It also adds to my TBR list. Borges saw literature as a living, interconnected entity. In an interview included in The Art of the Short Story, he was asked whether he saw the world’s literature as constantly changing and being modified by time and whether this made him feel a sense of futility about creating original works. He responded:

“But not only futility. I see it as something living and growing. I think of the world’s literature as a kind of forest. I mean, it’s tangled and entangles us, but it’s growing. Well, to come back to my inevitable image of a labyrinth, well it’s a living labyrinth, right? A living maze. Perhaps the word labyrinth is more interesting than the word maze.”

This idea—that literature is a living labyrinth—deepens the themes of infinite possibilities in The Garden of Forking Paths.

“This web of time – the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect or ignore each other through the centuries – embraces every possibility. We do not exist in most of them. In some you exist and not I, while in others I do, and you do not.”

The Garden of Forking Paths - Jorge Luis Borges

Living in the Moment: The Only Reality That Matters

Even though Borges paints a picture of infinite possibilities, he brings it back to the present with a simple yet profound idea: the present is the only reality that matters. That line hit me hard. It’s easy to get caught up in what could have been or what might be, but ultimately, the choices we make right now are what shape our paths.

While copyworking the story, I noticed how Borges’s repetition reinforces this theme. Certain ideas—like the urgency of the present moment—came alive in a way I might have overlooked otherwise. Yu Tsun’s story drives this point home. He’s a spy with a single mission, and the urgency of his present moment—deciding what to do, who to trust—feels more real and impactful than any abstract concept of infinite futures. It’s a powerful reminder to stay grounded and intentional, even in a world full of distractions.

Borges’ Writing: A Masterclass in Complexity and Clarity

What I love about Borges is how he blends deep, philosophical ideas with accessible storytelling. While copyworking, I noticed two things that stood out: his use of repetition and his occasional inclusion of long, almost academic words. The repetition wasn’t just for emphasis—it created a rhythm that mirrored the looping, branching paths of the story itself. The longer words certainly stood out as I copied each one out. The Jeopardy category "Words over 12 letters long" came to mind. But there was something about the way he used them that made me appreciate how carefully he chose them to convey the story’s intellectual depth.

Another thing that struck me was Borges’s clarity. Even when he’s discussing abstract ideas, his writing is never needlessly complicated. He paints such a clear picture that you can almost see Ts’ui Pên’s labyrinth in your mind. And while the story doesn’t spell everything out for you, it invites you to think deeply—and that’s part of its magic.

The Life Lessons in The Garden of Forking Paths

Reading this story made me reflect on my own life and choices. It’s easy to think about the “what ifs”—the roads not taken—but Borges reminded me of the importance of being present. The past is fixed, the future is uncertain, but the present is where we have power. It’s where we make decisions that shape everything that comes next.

Copyworking the story heightened this reflection for me. The process of slowing down and focusing on each word made the themes of time and choice feel even more relevant. This idea feels especially important today. So many of us (myself included) get caught up in our phones, our to-do lists, or worrying about what’s next. Borges’s story is a call to slow down and focus on the here and now. After all, it’s the present that defines the path we’re on.

Why Borges’ Labyrinth Still Captivates

What makes The Garden of Forking Paths timeless is how it blends philosophy with fiction in such a seamless way. Borges takes an abstract concept like infinite possibilities and grounds it in a human story—one filled with urgency, tension, and moral complexity. Written in 1941, the story is ageless and it feels as relevant today as when it was first written. 

When I started reading the story I had no idea what to expect and was pleasantly surprised The Garden of Forking Path is a story that you will think about after you have finished -- possibly every time you make a decision. The themes of time, choice, and reality will always make for some interesting reading and Borges masterfully guides us through his maze.

Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways

Some stories merely entertain us and then there are stories that get us thinking about life - the distractions and choices we are continually confronted with. The Garden of Forking Paths is more than just a short story; it’s an invitation to reflect on time, existence, and the power of our choices. I enjoyed copyworking this story, I learned a lot. I think it helped me to understand things that I may have missed otherwise. Writing out the deliberate repetition and careful word choices showed me what makes Borges’s writing so impactful. His labyrinth is both a literal and metaphorical masterpiece, reminding us that while the possibilities are endless, the present moment is where life happens. Being in the present moment is the key - a particularly important lesson given the aimless strolling on phones that millions of people do on a daily basis. Not being present. If you’re looking for a story that will challenge and inspire you, this one is well worth your time.

Further Exploration

If you are interested in exploring further into the themes and ideas in The Garden of Forking Paths, here are two fascinating videos:

An interview between William F. Buckley and Jorge Luis Borges - A rare chance to hear Borges discuss his work and philosophy in his own words.

An analysis of The Garden of Forking Paths - I enjoyed watching these guys break down the story for us.

This article was originally posted on Xinespack.com - Borges