Sunday, September 7, 2008

My Delirium on Chimborazo

In this seemingly fictional piece, Bolivar recounts his meeting with the god of Time. Bolivar states, "I have surpassed all men in fortune, because I have risen to be the head of them all." (pg. 136) He continues to say, "I grasp the eternal with my hands; I feel the infernal prisons boiling beneath my footsteps..." (pg. 136) Bolivar is expressing his personal belief that he is as great a man as he can possibly ever be; better than all man kind. However, his encounter with the God of Time, shows him how much smaller and less significant he really is. Time tells him about his mother, Eternity, and his brother, Infinity and their relationships with one another. He asks Simon Bolivar if he truly believes his universe holds any importance whatsoever, and if his scaling of the Andes mountain is at all significant in the scheme of things. He practically shoots down all of Bolivar's life accomplishments and tells him they are meaningless and trivial in Time's eyes. Time concludes by telling Bolivar to always remember what he has been exposed to. He says, "Do not conceal the secrets heaven has revealed to you. Tell men the truth." (pg. 136) Bolivar comes to the realization that the physical/moral Universe is enormous, and that time over powers everything and makes one's life seem so trivial.

4 comments:

Dr. Cummings said...

Interesting. I like your thinking about the humbling conversation that the Bolivarian narrator (probably Bolívar himself) has with Time. That said, by writing this "delirium" is he not controverting this humbling message? In other words, the very act of writing paradoxically immortalizes said realization that one is mortal. By putting his great achievements,and his "delirium" on paper, doesn't he once again claim immortality as his own, preserving it for posterity? After all, here we are reading and discussing it more than two hundred years later. We might say that Bolívar un-writes his own content because of the fact that he writes, or rather, El Libertador puts Time in its place.

Matt said...

I think you make a good point Dylan in pointing out the true meaning behind Bolivar's "delirium"/dream. I think that the delirium is so important because it was dreams like this that motivated Bolivar to do great things in life. However, in addition to the succcess Bolivar experienced in the dream in climbing mountains, crossing physical barriers etc. he was held in control by the "god of time." Consequently, Bolivar in theory kept this in mind. He seems to follow this lesson in his real lifestyle in addition to in his delirium. So, despite being "shot down" by the god of time, the delirium becomes a success story when Bolivar's actual accomplishments are considered.

dylan said...

I initially didn't perceive "My Delirium" as a written account in which Bolivar boasts about his accomplishments. However, after our small discussion in class I came to realize that that is exactly what it is. It seems this was written to let the world know, and remember what an amazing, influential, "godly" individual "El Libertador" was. By engaging in conversation with "Time" Bolivar also portrays himself to his audience as someone extremely special. Not only is he rich, powerful, intelligent, and influential, but he has physically climbed to the top of this mountain too, id "above" all men, and has conversed with the god-like figure of time.

ratcliffel said...

Dylan I agree with your own recreation of your blog post. However, you are failing to mention the counter part of this piece. Yes, I agree with you that "El Libertador" was rich, powerful, and a "godly" figure, but what about the flaws he sees in society and in himself. This is what is causing his delirium on this mountain. When Bolivar wrote "The Jamaica Letter," he was expressing his unsatisfactory feelings towards a near anarchy in Latin America. Also, Bolivar realizes that although he is rich and powerful, he can not defeat something like Father Time. Bolivar is considered as one of the great conquerers of his time, but something he cannot beat time. This weakness he sees in himself may have also caused his "Delirium on Chimbarazo."