The boy, in Isaac Babel’s “In The Basement”, is born into a poor Jewish family, and in an environment he attempts numerous times to escape. In his three main attempts is a progression from a harmless hobby to a coping mechanism to a final resource. His first attempt is by indulging himself in books, then his second attempt is by telling lies, and finally, in complete despair, he attempts suicide. He uses books as a means to escape reality and picture himself in a different environment. At the beginning of the story he mentions his difficulties mixing with other kids, calling himself “strange”, because instead of going along with society's norms for a child, he spends his time in his books. He passionately indulges in literature and fabricates stories of his own family in order to escape the mundane reality of his ramshackle family. The narrator uses literature to fictionalize his world, such as in his regular reference to William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. This reference allows the reader to see the contrast between the protagonist’s vulgar and unrefined reality and the play’s finesse. The lies told by the boy, in a sense, are derived from his imagination which…show more content… As predicted by the narrator, Borgman doesn't react well to the boy’s family, being described as going “pale and looking furtively around” (3) to finally “make his escape from the household)” (4). As Borgman’s becomes aware of his friends ludicrous family, the boy is left in complete despair. His previous attempts to cope with the reality of his environment failed, which left him no choice but to end his life, however, he fails to do so. “Again my forces failed me, again I surfaced”. This quote emphasizes his failure to fit into a more cultured and lavish lifestyle. His interests in literature, habitual lies, and failed suicide leaves the boy in a worse position than
