Symbolic deconstruction in The Crying of Lot 49The paths that lead to knowledge (of ourselves, of others, of the world around us) are tortuous. Thomas Pynchon, in his novel The Crying of Lot 49, seems to attempt to lead the reader down several of these paths simultaneously to illustrate this point. Our reliance on symbols as efficient translators of complex notions is called into question. Beginning with the choice of the symbolic or pseudo-symbolic name, Oedipa Maas, for the central character of his novel, Pynchon expands his investigation into the symbol while Oedipa also attempts to unravel the mysteries surrounding the silenced horn of the Tristero. evokes other images/ideas that may or may not directly reflect on the character to whom the name belongs, is Pynchon attempting to underline or undermine the whole notion of the symbol as a genuine source of insight? The answer could be both, I know, but let's continue down this path for a while longer. Let's consider a name for a moment, Oedipa Maas. Classical allusions at...