Among the characters woven into these narratives, many embody innocence. Some find themselves cast as victims, while others take on the role of victimizers. In "The Gospel According to Mark," the Gutre family is so profoundly moved by the sacrifice of Christ that they yearn to honor their educator in a most harrowing way—by crucifying him. Meanwhile, in "The Intruder," two brothers, swept away by unanticipated passion, fall for the same woman. With barely a word exchanged or soul searched, they decide to end her life.

These tales paint a vibrant social tapestry, one that is more vivid than other collections by Borges. The landscape is populated by seemingly inconsequential individuals: a budding medical student, two rustic cattle drivers, a destitute widow, a young Jewish boy from the lower middle class, and a venerable old woman. They are neither universal figures nor timeless symbols; merely ordinary souls whose stories might shed light on our own existence.