Monday, September 8, 2008
My Delirium on Chimbarazo (Why This Title?)
The title of the piece, My Delirium on Chimbarazo, is a clear reflection of how Bolivar felt while on top of the tallest mountain in Ecuador. His restlessness/insanity may be due to his constant conquering. He becomes delirious while on the mountain and sees an "apparition." Bolivar does not even refer to his own God (Catholic). Instead he talks about the God of Time and the "God of waters." That is a clear implication of his delirium because he won't even seek out the help of his own religion's icon when he is definitely not in a stable mindset. Being on top of this mountain may have overwhelmed his thoughts as well. He sees himself almost as if he were at the peak of the world. Bolivar also goes on to say that he has surpassed everyone in wealth, putting him at the peak of society. Now, he is physically and economically at the pinnacle, yet he is still overwhelmed. This craze he is caught in could also be caused by the lack of organization in the governments throughout Latin America. Even though he is the best in many ways, he still finds flaws in his surroundings.
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1 comment:
I have to disagree. Whether because the "delirium" is written in the past tense, or because stream-of-consciousness writing won´t really come along for another century, I find it difficult to believe that Bolívar actually sat on the top of a mountain writing about his visions as they appeared to him. This is a very intentional piece of writing in which the various Greco-Roman deities and the God of Time have allegorical functions. As you mention, the question of height itself, is best understood figuratively as opposed to literally. If you make the assumption that the heights of the mountain allude to the metaphorical altitude of his glory, what makes you think that the rest of the passage is to be read so literally? Have another look.
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