The Crying of Lot 49 Ch. 1-2
This is the first book we have read in this class with a female as the main character. Similar to the other stories, though, The Crying of Lot 49 brings up the topic of sexuality through a female character. Oedipa seems to embrace her sexuality throughout the story so far, especially in chapter 2. When she notices how attractive Metzger is, she begins to think about her appearance because she wants more than a simple professional relationship with him (18). When they are talking in the room together, the story moves back and forth between the subject they are discussing and the interactions between them. It shows that although Oedipa is having a conversation with Metzger, her mind is still focused on the tension between them and the attraction they feel for each other. Everything about the scene at the end of chapter 2 seems unromantic. At this point, Oedipa sees Metzger differently from when they first met at the beginning of the chapter. She sees him "wearing only a pair of bozer shorts and fast asleep with a hardon and his head under the couch. She noticed also a fat stomach the suit had hidden" (29). Nothing about the situation or him causes Oedipa to want to sleep with him, but it is her fear of what would happen when he leaves in the morning that makes her long for this intimacy.
Pynchon seems to make different connections to Greek mythology even though some of the references are not as obvious. Oedipa's name seems to be a play on the Greek mythological character. Oedipus' story is revolved around the idea of prophecy, so it will be interesting to see how prophecy may play a role in this book. On another note, San Narciso is not a real city in California. It can be translated to Saint Narcissus, which connects to the Greek mythological character, Narcissus. Though the author has not made it clear why he named this fictional city San Narciso, we see Oedipa paying attention to her appearance when she meets Metzger, which connects to the the story of Narcissus or the idea of being self-centered. Oedipa also sees the picture of the nymph when she arrives at the motel. Nymphs are lesser deities in Greek mythology that are known for their beauty. The fact that she sees herself in the nymph may say something about how she perceives herself, beauty, and sexuality. As of now, it is difficult to understand how all of these references to Greek mythology connect, but it will be interesting to see how Pynchon uses these stories in his own book.
Pynchon seems to make different connections to Greek mythology even though some of the references are not as obvious. Oedipa's name seems to be a play on the Greek mythological character. Oedipus' story is revolved around the idea of prophecy, so it will be interesting to see how prophecy may play a role in this book. On another note, San Narciso is not a real city in California. It can be translated to Saint Narcissus, which connects to the Greek mythological character, Narcissus. Though the author has not made it clear why he named this fictional city San Narciso, we see Oedipa paying attention to her appearance when she meets Metzger, which connects to the the story of Narcissus or the idea of being self-centered. Oedipa also sees the picture of the nymph when she arrives at the motel. Nymphs are lesser deities in Greek mythology that are known for their beauty. The fact that she sees herself in the nymph may say something about how she perceives herself, beauty, and sexuality. As of now, it is difficult to understand how all of these references to Greek mythology connect, but it will be interesting to see how Pynchon uses these stories in his own book.
I hadn't made the connections between this story and Greek mythology, which I definitely should have given the name Oedipa. It's interesting to me that there is a connection to prophecy, which would relate this story to Macbeth. Also I agree with your thoughts on that sexuality is a major theme in this novel in that almost every interaction Oedipa has with other characters is sexual in some fashion.
ReplyDeleteI definitely see a relationship between the characterization of Oedipa and Mrs. Douglas in Sherlock Holmes. Both women are sexualized and depicted as searching for relations (Oedipa with Metzger and Mrs. Douglas with Cecil Baker). Both women are viewed as not being monogamous to their husbands. However, Oedipa does not seem vilified for her lack of loyalty. Instead, the narrator is just conveying factually that she has sexual relations with Metzger. In contrast, the narrator in Sherlock Holmes (Dr. Watson) is critical of Mrs. Douglas and believes that she behaves like a "monster".
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