Instructions for Obedience

The book opens with a direct address to the reader, mimicking the format of a standardized test. The instructions are clear, rigid, and impersonal, setting the tone for a world where obedience is valued over understanding. The reader is invited to participate, but the participation is illusory—choices are limited, and the correct answers are often arbitrary or impossible. This structure immediately establishes the central metaphor: life, especially in Chile under dictatorship and its aftermath, is a test designed not to foster critical thinking, but to train individuals to conform, obey, and repeat. The emotional undercurrent is one of frustration and quiet rebellion, as the reader senses the futility of the exercise but is compelled to continue, searching for meaning in a system that resists it.

Words Without Meaning

The early sections play with language, asking the reader to identify words that do not belong, to order sentences, to complete phrases. These exercises highlight the slipperiness of meaning and the arbitrariness of authority. Words are shown to be both powerful and empty, capable of shaping reality but also of obscuring it. The emotional effect is disorientation, as the reader is forced to confront the limitations of language and the ways in which it can be manipulated to serve power. The exercises become a metaphor for the ways in which individuals are taught to internalize the logic of the system, to accept definitions and categories that may have little to do with their own experiences or truths.

Family Arguments and Memory

Through a series of short, shuffled narratives, the book explores the dynamics of family: arguments between parents and siblings, the coldness of childhood homes, the selective nature of memory. These vignettes are presented as sentence-ordering exercises, emphasizing the constructedness of memory and the impossibility of ever fully reconstructing the past. The emotional tone is one of melancholy and resignation, as the narrator acknowledges the gaps and distortions in their recollections. Family is both a source of identity and a site of conflict, a place where love and resentment coexist, and where the wounds of the past continue to shape the present.

The Art of Cheating

A key narrative emerges around the experience of cheating on tests in school. Far from being a simple act of dishonesty, cheating becomes a form of resistance and community. The students, faced with an educational system designed to break their morale and enforce conformity, find in cheating a way to assert their agency and support one another. The emotional arc here is bittersweet: there is pride in outwitting the system, but also a sense of loss, as the skills learned are not those of critical thinking or creativity, but of survival and complicity. The story suggests that in a corrupt world, solidarity is often forged in the shadows.

Twin Paths Diverge

The story of the Covarrubias twins serves as a parable of identity and divergence. Born into a world that insists on sameness, the twins are gradually separated by the structures of school and society. Their paths diverge—one excelling, the other faltering—only to converge again in an act of deception, as one takes the university entrance exam for the other. The emotional resonance is complex: there is love and rivalry, pride and shame, and a deep sense of inevitability. The twins' story becomes a microcosm of the larger themes of the book: the tension between individuality and conformity, the ways in which systems shape destinies, and the moral ambiguities of survival.

The Rot of Education

The narrative returns to the broader critique of education, with a former teacher reflecting on his own failures and the failures of the system. The school is described as "rotten," a place where students are not educated but trained to navigate a corrupt world. The emotional tone is one of disillusionment and quiet despair, but also of dark humor. The teacher's story is both a confession and a warning, a recognition that the skills valued by the system—obedience, cunning, adaptability—are those required to survive in a society where everyone "fucks everyone over." The reader is left to ponder the cost of such training.

Love, Annulment, and Waiting

A new narrative thread explores the institution of marriage in Chile, focusing on a wedding that is both joyful and absurd. The couple, surrounded by friends and alcohol, pledge to stay married "in protest" against a system that does not allow divorce. The emotional arc is one of fleeting happiness, followed by inevitable disillusionment. The marriage, like so many institutions in the book, is revealed to be a performance, a legal fiction that can be annulled as easily as it is enacted. The story is suffused with irony and nostalgia, as the characters navigate the gap between personal desire and social expectation.

The Country of No Divorce

The narrative expands to critique Chilean society as a whole, describing it as "the country of waiting," a place where change is endlessly deferred and legal fictions abound. The debate over the divorce law becomes a symbol of the nation's inability to confront its own contradictions. The emotional tone is one of frustration and weary humor, as the characters list the many urgent problems facing the country, only to see them lost in bureaucratic inertia and cultural conservatism. The story captures the sense of living in a society that is both deeply flawed and strangely resilient, where hope persists in spite of everything.

The Drum of Complaints

At the wedding party, the guests fill a literal and metaphorical drum with their complaints and wishes for the country. The scene is chaotic, drunken, and deeply human, as individuals voice their frustrations and dreams. The emotional effect is one of catharsis and camaraderie, but also of futility, as the complaints pile up with no resolution in sight. The drum becomes a symbol of both solidarity and impotence, a reminder that collective action is possible but often dissipates in the face of entrenched power. The moment is both comic and tragic, capturing the spirit of a generation caught between hope and resignation.

Erasing and Being Erased

A deeply personal letter from a father to his son explores the themes of erasure and memory. The father confesses his ambivalence about parenthood, his fantasies of a life without his child, and his awareness of the ways in which parents and children inevitably hurt and erase one another. The emotional tone is raw and honest, oscillating between love and guilt, longing and regret. The letter becomes a meditation on the impossibility of truly erasing those we love, and the ways in which our lives are shaped by both presence and absence. The reader is left with a sense of vulnerability and empathy, recognizing the universality of these conflicted feelings.

Children, Pets, and Responsibility

The narrative draws a parallel between the decision to have children and the decision to have pets, highlighting the contradictions of a generation that prefers the manageable responsibilities of pet ownership to the irrevocable commitment of parenthood. The emotional effect is one of rueful self-awareness, as the narrator acknowledges the ways in which fear, selfishness, and uncertainty shape our choices. The story critiques the culture of perpetual adolescence, where adulthood is endlessly postponed and responsibility is avoided. Yet there is also tenderness in the recognition of these limitations, and a hope that honesty can lead to understanding.

The Struggle for Existence

The story of the abandoned puppy, Cosmo, becomes a catalyst for the final rupture between parents. The struggle over whether to keep the dog mirrors the deeper struggle over love, control, and the limits of selflessness. The emotional arc is one of confrontation and surrender, as the narrator realizes that the child's will cannot be denied, and that the battle for dominance is ultimately futile. The story is both specific and universal, capturing the ways in which small decisions can reveal the fault lines in relationships and the impossibility of ever fully understanding or controlling those we love.

Generational Contradictions

The book reflects on the differences between generations: the parents who believed in God, marriage, and sacrifice, and the children who reject these certainties in favor of freedom and skepticism. The emotional tone is ambivalent, as the narrator recognizes both the limitations and the strengths of each generation. There is a sense of loss for the solidity of the past, but also a recognition that the old certainties were often illusions. The story suggests that each generation must find its own way, but that the past continues to haunt the present, shaping choices and identities in ways that are both visible and invisible.

The Weight of Inheritance

Throughout the book, the characters grapple with the legacies of dictatorship, family trauma, and societal expectations. The emotional burden of inheritance is heavy, as individuals struggle to reconcile their own desires with the demands of history and community. The narrative is suffused with a sense of inevitability, as the past asserts itself in unexpected ways. Yet there is also a stubborn hope, a belief that it is possible to break the cycle, to choose differently, even if only in small ways. The story is both a lament and a call to action, urging the reader to confront the weight of inheritance with honesty and courage.

The Ghosts of Dictatorship

The specter of Chile's dictatorship looms over the narrative, shaping the lives of the characters in ways both direct and subtle. The book explores the culture of silence and denial that persists in the aftermath of trauma, as well as the ways in which individuals and families are complicit in maintaining these silences. The emotional tone is one of anger and sorrow, as the narrator confronts the impossibility of true justice or closure. The story insists on the importance of remembering, even when memory is painful, and on the need to break the cycles of violence and repression that continue to haunt the present.

The Test as Life

The structure of the book—its relentless multiple-choice questions, its arbitrary rules, its demand for answers—becomes a metaphor for life itself. The emotional effect is one of exhaustion and defiance, as the reader is forced to confront the absurdity of a world that demands certainty where none exists. The story suggests that the search for the "right" answer is often futile, and that meaning must be created, not discovered. The test becomes both a prison and a playground, a site of oppression and of possibility.

The Search for Connection

Amid the fragmentation and absurdity, the book returns again and again to the desire for connection: between parents and children, lovers, friends, and strangers. The emotional arc is one of yearning and disappointment, as the characters struggle to bridge the gaps that separate them. Yet there are moments of genuine intimacy and understanding, fleeting but real, that offer hope in the midst of alienation. The story affirms the importance of empathy, vulnerability, and the willingness to reach out, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

The Absurdity of Answers

In the end, the book refuses to provide easy answers or resolutions. The multiple-choice format, with its insistence on definitive solutions, is revealed to be inadequate to the complexity of human experience. The emotional effect is one of liberation, as the reader is invited to embrace uncertainty, to accept the ambiguity and messiness of life. The story suggests that meaning is not something to be found, but something to be made, together, in the face of absurdity.

Characters

The Narrator

The narrator is a composite figure, sometimes a child, sometimes an adult, always caught between the demands of the system and the desire for authenticity. He is introspective, self-critical, and deeply aware of the contradictions that shape his life. His relationships—with family, lovers, friends, and his own child—are marked by ambivalence and longing. Psychologically, he is haunted by the legacies of the past, struggling to reconcile his own desires with the expectations of society. Over the course of the book, he moves from passive acceptance to a tentative embrace of uncertainty, finding meaning not in answers, but in the act of questioning.

The Father

The father figure appears in various forms: as a source of authority, as a flawed human being, as a voice of confession and apology. His relationship with the narrator is fraught with tension, shaped by the failures and disappointments of both men. Psychologically, he is burdened by guilt and a sense of inadequacy, but also by love and a desire for redemption. His development is marked by a gradual willingness to confront his own limitations and to seek forgiveness, even as he recognizes the impossibility of fully repairing the damage done.

The Mother

The mother is a complex presence, both nurturing and distant, loving and critical. Her relationship with the narrator is shaped by the dynamics of family conflict and the pressures of societal expectation. Psychologically, she is resilient but wounded, carrying the scars of her own upbringing and the traumas of the dictatorship. Her development is often seen through the eyes of others, but her influence is profound, shaping the emotional landscape of the family.

The Covarrubias Twins (Luis and Antonio)

Luis and Antonio Covarrubias are both individuals and symbols: their story explores the tension between sameness and difference, conformity and rebellion. Their relationship is marked by love, rivalry, and a deep sense of connection that persists even as their paths diverge. Psychologically, they embody the struggle to define oneself in the face of external expectations and internal doubts. Their development is shaped by the pressures of family, school, and society, culminating in an act of deception that blurs the line between right and wrong.

Mr. Segovia

Mr. Segovia is a former teacher who becomes a Metro conductor, a figure of both authority and vulnerability. His relationship with the students is marked by humor, honesty, and a sense of shared disillusionment. Psychologically, he is a man who has lost faith in the system but retains a sense of responsibility toward the next generation. His development is characterized by a willingness to speak uncomfortable truths, even as he acknowledges his own failures.

The Bride

The bride is both a specific character and a symbol of the possibilities and limitations of love. Her relationship with the narrator is marked by passion, conflict, and eventual estrangement. Psychologically, she is independent, witty, and resilient, but also vulnerable to the disappointments of life. Her development mirrors the arc of the marriage: from hope and celebration to disillusionment and erasure, she embodies the complexities of intimacy and the difficulty of sustaining connection.

The Son

The son is both a character and a symbol of the future, the one who inherits the wounds and hopes of his parents. His relationship with the narrator is marked by love, misunderstanding, and the struggle for autonomy. Psychologically, he is shaped by the contradictions of his upbringing, caught between the desire for independence and the need for belonging. His development is largely seen through the eyes of his father, but his presence is a constant reminder of the stakes of the choices made by previous generations.

Cosmo (the Dog)

Cosmo, the abandoned puppy, becomes a focal point for the family's struggles over love, responsibility, and control. His presence forces the characters to confront their own limitations and desires, serving as both a source of comfort and a trigger for conflict. Psychologically, Cosmo represents the innocence and vulnerability that the adults have lost, as well as the possibility of redemption through care and connection.

Farra

Farra is a friend of the narrator, present at key moments of celebration and crisis. His role is often that of the instigator, asking uncomfortable questions and pushing the characters to confront their own contradictions. Psychologically, he is both cynical and loyal, a figure who embodies the ambivalence of a generation caught between hope and resignation. His development is marked by a willingness to support his friends, even as he recognizes the futility of many of their struggles.

The Poet

The poet is a minor but memorable character, whose drunken pronouncements capture the spirit of a generation in limbo. His relationship with the other characters is marked by humor and vulnerability, as he oscillates between grand declarations and self-deprecating jokes. Psychologically, he represents the longing for meaning and the recognition of its elusiveness. His development is less a narrative arc than a series of moments, each capturing the absurdity and beauty of life in a country that is always waiting.

Plot Devices

Standardized Test Structure

The book's most distinctive device is its use of the standardized test format, which shapes both the form and content of the narrative. This structure serves as a metaphor for the ways in which individuals are trained to obey, conform, and accept the logic of the system. The test format allows for fragmentation, ambiguity, and play, inviting the reader to participate in the creation of meaning. It also highlights the absurdity of seeking definitive answers in a world that resists them, and the ways in which power is exercised through the control of language and knowledge.

Fragmented Narrative

The book employs a fragmented, non-linear narrative, with stories presented as exercises, vignettes, and confessions. This device mirrors the disjointed nature of memory and the difficulty of constructing coherent identities in the aftermath of trauma. The fragmentation allows for multiple perspectives and voices, creating a sense of polyphony and complexity. It also reflects the emotional reality of the characters, whose lives are marked by uncertainty, contradiction, and the constant negotiation of meaning.

Irony and Absurdity

Irony and absurdity pervade the book, from the impossible questions of the test to the darkly comic stories of family and society. These devices serve both to critique the failures of the system and to offer a form of resistance, allowing the characters (and the reader) to maintain a sense of agency and perspective. The humor is often bittersweet, acknowledging the pain and injustice of the world while refusing to surrender to despair.

Foreshadowing and Circularity

The book makes frequent use of foreshadowing and circularity, with stories and themes recurring in different forms. This device emphasizes the persistence of certain patterns—family conflict, societal stagnation, the search for meaning—and the difficulty of breaking free from them. At the same time, the repetition creates opportunities for new interpretations and connections, suggesting that change is possible, even if it is slow and uncertain.

Analysis

Alejandro Zambra's Multiple Choice is a formally inventive, emotionally resonant exploration of life under systems that value obedience over thought. By adopting the structure of a standardized test, Zambra exposes the ways in which education, family, and society conspire to limit individuality and enforce conformity. The book's fragmented narratives and absurd humor invite the reader to question the logic of the world they inhabit, to recognize the arbitrariness of authority, and to seek meaning in the act of questioning itself. At its core, Multiple Choice is a meditation on memory, inheritance, and the struggle to connect in a world that often seems designed to keep us apart. It is both a lament for what has been lost and a celebration of the small acts of resistance and solidarity that make life bearable. The lesson is clear: in a world of impossible questions, the only meaningful answers are those we create together, in defiance of the system's demand for certainty.

Last updated: August 31, 2025