HE WHO WANDERS | a short story review

 

The main character from this story is "Fernando Augustin Navaro" but we read the story from the point of view that the reader is the main character. The background around 1970

As the story deliberately leaves many loose ends for readers to interpret creatively. Additionally, like any piece of fiction or horror, not everything needs to follow perfect logical sense. Personally, I believe it’s more about sparking readers' creativity and encouraging them to piece things together, rather than providing all the answers directly.

That being said, the most popular theory about the story is that Borges, partly due to being a brilliant writer and scholar, and partly because he knew he was one of "the doomed ones" (aware he was on the eventual victim list), "sensed" the true identity of the fake Navaro (Quietus Est) and deliberately tricked him into believing he was someone else, turning him from the pursuer into the pursued.

The entity, as Borges had already known, is eternal and with each victim, it "rewinds" itself, gradually taking over the identity and memories of its victim ("Shakespearean memories"). Borges understood that no matter what he did, he couldn't change the ultimate outcome. His only option was to prolong the chase. At first, it might seem that he did this to give Navaro more time to live, but a more plausible agenda was likely self-preservation. While Quietus was preoccupied with Navaro, Borges managed to disappear off the radar and live a long, fruitful life as a rich and renowned writer.

However, Borges also believed that no matter what he did, the nature of Quietus Est couldn't be altered. This is why he published his last book, secretly directing it towards his only true audience - Quietus Est. This was Borges' hail of triumph, his victory lap, his last laugh at the entity.

-Not all those who wander are lost-