one lives in the abstract and lets go of biological history can one achieve consciousness. The definition of failure Horacio's life seems hopeless because he has deemed himself a failure. La Maga's life seems hopeless because she has never worked to resolve the issues of rape and abuse in her childhood. Traveler's life seems hopeless because he has never done what he wanted to do, and even the name he has adopted teases at this irony. But none of these people are considered by outward society to be failures. They are stuck where they are because of their own self-defeating attitudes. Short chapters also express the idea that there is no penetrating purpose to the novel and life in general. For Horacio, life is a series of artistic flashes by which he perceives the world in profound ways but still remains unable to create anything of value. Other major themes include obsession, madness, life-as-a-circus, the nature and meaning of sex, and self-knowledge. Influences The novel was the inspiration for Yuval Sharon's 2015 production of Hopscotch, an opera by six composers and six librettists set on multiple stages in Los Angeles. The Gotan Project's 2010 studio album Tango 3.0 includes a song "Rayuela" written in honor of the author. References Further reading There is a chapter devoted to the translation of "Hopscotch". External links Julio Cortázar on Charlie Parker, Art and Dylan Thomas (circa 1958–63) Julio Cortázar talks about Paris (circa 1963–67) (French / Spanish) Lost in Paris with Julio and Carole (circa 1977–82) "Un tal Morelli: Teoría y práctica de la lectura en Rayuela" by Santiago Juan-Navarro "¿Y quién pagará esta llamada?" 1963 Argentine novels Cultural depictions of Dylan Thomas Metafictional novels New Wave Novels by Julio Cortázar Novels set in Argentina Novels set in Buenos Aires Novels set in Paris Pantheon Books books Postmodern novels