Theme of the Traitor and the Hero

Infobox short story |
name = Theme of the Traitor and the Hero
title_orig = Tema del traidor y del héroe
translator =
author = Jorge Luis Borges
country = Argentina flagicon|Argentina
language = Spanish
series =
genre = Fantasy, short story
published_in = "Artifices"
publisher =
media_type = Print
pub_date = 1944
english_pub_date =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"Theme of the Traitor and the Hero" (original Spanish title: "Tema del traidor y del héroe") is a short story by Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges originally published in 1944 in number 112 of the review "Sur".

Plot summary

The story begins with the narrator discussing an idea he has had for a story. Almost immediately he begins to fill in the details. The rest of the story is taken up with the narrator's description. A researcher is writing a book on a revolutionary hero called Fergus Kilpatrik, about a century after his assassination. It is the story of some Irish rebels, one of whom (Kilpatrik) has confessed to betraying their movement. After confessing, "he and his cabal decided that he should die a hero, a martyr, thus redeeming his traitorous act by furnishing Ireland with a shining example of heroism." Taking ideas from Shakespeare, and using the entire town as a stage, Kilpatrik plays the role of a hero and sacrifices himself "in order to preserve his heroic image and the peoples' passion for the cause." The researcher realises the truth but, in order not to spoil the illusion and reveal Kilpatrick as a traitor, publishes a book glorifying Kilpatrik, himself ultimately playing a role in the story.

References

* cite book
last = Borges
first = Jorge Luis
authorlink = Jorge Luis Borges
title = Theme of the Traitor and the Hero
* cite web
last = Pugh
first = Adam
title = Order Versus Chaos: Comparing the literary essences of Isaac Asimov and Jorge Luis Borges
url = http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/speccol/pugha.shtml
accessdate = 2007-08-15
* cite web
last = B. Ruch
first = Allen
title = Borges - Film: The Spider's Strategy
url = http://www.themodernword.com/Borges/borges_film_spider.html
accessdate = 2007-08-15