The Insufferable Gaucho

In this story, a judge living in Buenos Aires experiences an uncomplicated life of idleness until an economic collapse in Argentina forces him to flee to an abandoned ranch out in the country. As he endures a life of simplicity, the judge slowly falls victim to insanity. Bolaño’s story develops oddly, but surprisingly presents itself as ‘ordinary’ through its unemotional and unexcited tone. The thematic role of the rabbits is one of the most peculiar aspects of the story. The judge not only watches several of them devour another rabbit while on the train, but also witnesses a rabbit jumping up and biting another man on the neck. As another blogger describes it, Bolaño’s story “is like a painting with almost nothing on it, which by its sparseness magnifies what little is there.” The unusual quirky slant of “The Insufferable Gaucho” allows it to be read in reminiscence of fairy tales.