Journey of self-discovery in The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchons The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchons challenges readers' perception of the world by enveloping its readers, through a variety of mediums, within the intricate mechanisms of his narrative. It centers on heroine Oedipa Maas, whose life is turned upside down when she discovers she has been named executor of the estate of old flame and entrepreneur Pierce Inverarity. When required to travel to the fictional town of San Narcisco, where Inverarity is said to have numerous real estate holdings, to carry out her task, Oedipa comes across a silent post horn; the first of many clues that lead her into the depths of the impenetrable conspiracy surrounding Trystero, an underground postal system shrouded in mystery and intrigue; opening your eyes to an alternative lifestyle. This postmodern literary work infuses dark humor and irony instigating a metamorphosis of intellectually stimulating material; subsequently drawing us, his readers who have unwittingly become part of the conspiracy, into the methodical chaos of The Crying of Lot 49. Well known for incorporating the basic ideas of philosophy and physics throughout his writings, Pynchon states that the " the measure of the world is its entropy" (The Grim Phoenix, page 2); a statement that extends to the worlds he has created within the covers of his books. The structure of observation that Pynchon has constructed for viewing his creation has two distinct levels focused on those of his characters, particularly Oedipa Maas, whose world is restricted to the confines of the composition and also that of the reader on the outside. looking inside; but those who are also struck by (h...... middle of paper...... our inability to interact personally with the characters in the book, are tied to a bewildered guide who doesn't see well enough to show us the right direction Even if Oedipa never discovers the hidden truth about whether or not there is a state-level conspiracy involving Trystero, she ultimately gives in to the innate paranoia of never knowing for sure, like the reader who has come to the conclusion that. it would be a better practice to know she is paranoid and accept it as part of life in that society, then deny its existence and live in doubt for the rest of her life choosing to embrace the new self she has unearthed on her journey, as the reader Oedipa is reintroduced to the world at large and with eyes wide open Works Cited: Pynchon, Thomas The Crying of Lot 49. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.. 1965.