Poem Analysis - Remorse For Any Death

Introduction: The Abstract Nature of Death

Jorge Luis Borges' "Remorse For Any Death" is a philosophical meditation on death, not as a state of being, but as an utter absence and dispossession. The poem adopts a detached and somewhat mournful tone, initially focusing on the abstract concept of death before shifting to the specific ways in which we, the living, separate ourselves from the deceased. This emotional shift underscores the human struggle to comprehend and accept the finality of death. The poem doesn't dwell on grief, but rather on the chasm that death creates between the living and the dead, and the strange kind of "theft" that occurs after someone passes away. The poem ultimately feels like a rumination on the limitations of human understanding when faced with the unknowable.

Argentine Context and Borges's Philosophical Concerns

While specific historical or social circumstances are not directly apparent in this poem, it's helpful to remember that Borges was an Argentinian writer deeply interested in philosophical questions of identity, reality, and the nature of time. These intellectual preoccupations frequently surface in his work. The poem reflects Borges’s signature style of exploring complex ideas through precise language and metaphorical thinking. This poem on death might be seen as part of his broader engagement with the unknowable aspects of human existence.

The Central Theme of Radical Absence

A primary theme in "Remorse For Any Death" is the radical absence that death represents. Borges establishes this theme immediately, stating the dead man "is not a dead man: he is death." This initial line makes death not a state of being but more as a representation of the condition of being dead. It is not about the person that dies, but the consequence of death. This establishes death as a profound and unsettling void, something beyond our comprehension. The poem continues to build this sense of absence through evocative language, describing the dead one as "alien everywhere" and the "ruin and absence of the world." These stark images emphasize the absolute separation that death creates, stripping the individual of all connection to the world they once inhabited.

Mortality and The "Theft" of Experience

The poem delves into the theme of mortality by focusing on how the living essentially "rob" the dead of their experiences. Borges writes, "We rob him of everything, / we leave him not so much as a color or syllable." This is not a literal theft, but rather the seizing of experiences and memories that the deceased can no longer access. The line "Even what we are thinking, / he could be thinking" is particularly poignant, highlighting the shared human capacity for thought and experience that death abruptly terminates for one individual while continuing for others. By framing the continuity of life of the living in the light of the dead, the poem highlights the injustice of mortality by framing the living as stealing from the dead.

The Loss of Sensory Perception and Connection

The poem utilizes vivid imagery to underscore the loss of sensory perception and connection that accompanies death. The lines "here, the courtyard which his eyes no longer see, / there, the sidewalk where his hope lay in wait" are particularly striking. They create a sense of place, grounding the abstract concept of death in specific, tangible locations. By emphasizing the dead man’s inability to see the courtyard or walk the sidewalk, Borges highlights the profound disconnect between the deceased and the world they once knew. This imagery serves to amplify the sense of loss and the irreversible nature of death.

Concluding Thoughts: The Lingering Question of Understanding

In conclusion, "Remorse For Any Death" is a powerful exploration of death as a state of utter absence and the ways in which the living grapple with this reality. The poem uses stark imagery and philosophical language to convey the profound disconnect between the living and the dead, emphasizing the loss of experience and the severance of connections. The final image of the living dividing up "the booty of nights and days" leaves the reader contemplating the inherent unfairness of mortality and the lingering question of whether we can ever truly comprehend the finality of death. The poem's significance lies in its unflinching portrayal of death's unknowable nature, prompting us to consider our own mortality and the preciousness of the experiences we hold.