Three Versions of Hawthorne.

The article examines Jorge Luis Borges's complex engagement with Nathaniel Hawthorne, focusing on three interpretive perspectives: Hawthorne as a philosopher, a fiddler (a man who "means no meanings"), and a figure of literary fraud. Borges regarded Hawthorne as a pivotal yet enigmatic figure in American literature, notable for his moralizing allegory and reclusive nature, which contrasted with more extroverted contemporaries like Poe and Melville. The discussion highlights Borges's metaphysical reading of Keats's nightingale to illustrate his nuanced views on universals and particulars, and it explores Poe's critique of Hawthorne's originality and allegorical style. Finally, Borges's story "Three Versions of Judas" is analyzed as a metafictional exploration of betrayal and theological paradox, reflecting Borges's broader literary and philosophical concerns.