Why were the butterflies blind in the story Mariposas de Koch?

Question

I've tried so hard to understand this story but it makes no sense to me. Someone please help

Answer 1

Las mariposas de Koch- This is a very interesting story with a lot of symbolism throughout. It reads like a fable but has dark overtones. 

Some background information- 

Who is Koch- Robert Koch was a German Nobel prize winning physician, who discovered the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. In Antonio Di Benedetto’s story the protagonist is suffering from a disease that is causing him to cough up blood, one of the symptoms of tuberculosis. 

The use of butterflies is related to Franz Kafka’s use of animals in his writing in which he fuses elements of realism and fantasy. The term Kafkaesque refers to bizarre and absurd stories with the feel of a nightmare. Incidentally, Franz Kafka died of tuberculosis. 

Antonio Di Benedetto’s writing style shows Kafkaesque tendencies. The title also acknowledges Dr. Koch and gives the reader a clue to our protagonists malady. I believe that by eating the butterflies the main character wanted to feel like his mundane donkey, not having a care in the world. Obviously he is dying, and the white butterflies turning red symbolize the blood he is coughing up. As the story progresses we see many metaphors of the body with animals. The animals move into his heart because it has four chambers- symbolizing rooms in a house. Then the butterflies have children who eventually want to fly away. When they leave the “house”/body they are white symbolizing life however, they are blind. They can not see their real condition as they have been infected with the tuberculosis as well. 

Answer 2

Hello Satie

 

I hope is not too late for this answer.

 

In the story "Mariposas de koch", the character is spitting blood and therefore is sick. However, one of the mechanisms that our mind uses to protect against such situations, is denial. That's why sometimes we use the phrase "I cannot believe it," because many times when something bad surprises us we tend to deny it in our minds. This feature is shown in the story when Koch invents in his mind the butterflies coming out of his mouth. In other words the character is imagining a situation denying his reality. In the story he mentions that butterflies are blind. This is an analogy of those insects that are born and live in complete darkness like those in the deep sea or some caves, and are blind because they don't need to see. He is corroborating his story with something that is real and he knows about some insects.

 

I hope it helps.

 

Fernando