Draft:Final Exam (book)

The novel is divided into eight chapters, and narrates the walk of a group of friends that are about to take an exam at the department of humanities at their college, which ultimately gets suspended. During their trip, the group walk through a Buenos Aires covered in fog where funguses proliferate and where the dogs sleep in the subway. The characters include Juan the poet, Andrés the writer and journalist; Clara, the intellectual elitist, Abel, who is enigmatic and different from the rest, and Stella, the only one that is uneducated in the group. The rest of the group felt superior over her, because she sympathized with the masses. The group strolls through the spooky city while they discuss profound topics, including their disdain for the uneducated masses.

The novel is divided into eight chapters, and narrates the walk of a group of friends that are about to take an exam at the department of humanities at their college, which ultimately gets suspended. During their trip, the group walk through a Buenos Aires covered in fog where funguses proliferate and where the dogs sleep in the subway. The characters include Juan the poet, Andrés the writer and journalist; Clara, the intellectual elitist, Abel, who is enigmatic and different from the rest, and Stella, the only one that is uneducated in the group. The rest of the group felt superior over her, because she sympathized with the masses. The group strolls through the spooky city while they discuss profound topics, including their disdain for the uneducated masses.

Later in the novel there is a clear allusion to Peronism. For example in the description of a wake in Plaza de Mayo, which is attended by the masses and where bones are laid to rest. That is how Cortázar alludes to Eva Perón, who was still alive at that time. There is an open ending in which Abel confronts Andrés.

Later in the novel there is a clear allusion to Peronism. For example, in the description of a wake in Plaza de Mayo, which is attended by the masses and where bones are laid to rest. That is how Cortázar alludes to Eva Perón, who was still alive at that time. There is an open ending in which Abel confronts Andrés.

Cortázar wrote about his novel: <blockquote>[...] the subject matter is absolutely fantastic: the story of the destruction of Buenos Aires, the city is seen as a body that becomes sick and begins to rot. There are a series of strange signs; for example, in bookstores in downtown Buenos Aires, funguses begin to sprout in the books, sections of sidewalks and streets can be seen falling apart, subway stations fill with wild dogs looking for something to eat [...]</blockquote>

Cortázar wrote about his novel: <blockquote>[...] the subject matter is absolutely fantastic: the story of the destruction of Buenos Aires, the city is seen as a body that becomes sick and begins to rot. There are a series of strange signs; for example, in bookstores in downtown Buenos Aires, funguses begin to sprout in the books, sections of sidewalks and streets can be seen falling apart, subway stations fill with wild dogs looking for something to eat [...]</blockquote>