Patterns.

As we started reading, Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, I began finding different patterns. These different designs I found were all somewhat related to the cities narrated by Marco Polo. They all had to do with them in a way or another, literally or figuratively. Even so, at the beginning of the book, Calvino writes, “Only in Marco Polo’s accounts was Kublai Khan able to discern, through the wall and towers destined to crumble, the tracery of a pattern so subtle it could escape the termites’ gnawing.”  (Pg. 6) Thus, telling Kublai Khan, (or the reader if understood in a more symbolic way) that only in what Marco Polo says (or the writer) is Khan able to discover through knowledge a patter so delicate but complex, it could escape the enemy (meaning the forgetfulness of knowledge).

Although this book can be read in different ways it can only be comprehended in two different ways, one figurative and one literal. However, slight patterns can still be traced.

Pattern 1:

If the reader checks the index carefully, it will reveal a peculiar sequence in the progression of tittles and numbers. The reader would be able to notice how a succession follows an organized sequence (54321) In the first section, the numbers all start at 1, increase and then decrease back to number one. Consequently, through the rest of the sections all the titles follow the order (54321), expect the last one. Number nine, is the inverse or the contrary of the first section, beginning at five, decreasing and then increasing back again to five.

Pattern 2:

I didn’t notice this pattern, but rather a friend told me about it, and it was quite interesting. In the index, the reader can see how the tittles of each new chapter, or section vary in length, making a wave. Meaning, that if looked sideways, and all next to the other, it could look like a city skyline.

These are only two of the many patterns that can be seen in the book. They didn’t just happen to be there. They were intentionally put there for a reason that still remains unknown to us.