Brent holds a Ph.D. in American culture from the University of Michigan. In this essay, Brent discusses religious symbolism in Cortazar's "The Pursuer."

Cortazar's short story "The Pursuer" is narrated by jazz critic Bruno V., who recounts his experiences with a brilliant but self-destructive jazz saxophonist by the name of Johnny Carter. Bruno's narrative is an attempt to make up for the element that was "missing" from his published biography of Johnny. As Johnny tells Bruno, "what you forgot to put in is me."

In Bruno's attempt to capture the essence of Johnny that was left out of his biography of the jazz musician, he makes many references to God, angels, devils, and religion. Johnny is repeatedly described by Bruno as a sort of angel or a god. Ultimately, Bruno represents Johnny as a Christ-like figure who suffers for the sins of mankind, and his own...