The Crying of Lot 49 Summary
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Here you will find a The Crying of Lot 49 summary (Thomas Pynchon's book).
We begin with a summary of the entire book, and then you can read each individual chapter's summary by visiting the links on the "Chapters" section.
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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024
Chapters The Crying of Lot 49 Summary Overview
Living in Kinneret, California, Oedipa Maas, a youthful married woman, is informed by a law firm letter that she's been chosen as the executor of her late ex-lover, Pierce Inverarity's estate. To fulfill her role, she travels to San Narciso, Pierce's hometown, and meets Metzger, the assigned attorney. Amidst their duties, they engage in a spontaneous romantic liaison. As Oedipa navigates through Pierce’s complex financial affairs, she learns of his vast stamp collection. A visit to a local watering hole introduces her to Mike Fallopian, a fervent rightist from Peter Pinguid Society, and a curious symbol representing a muted post horn, accompanied by the term W.A.S.T.E and the name "Kirby." Exploring further, Oedipa and Metzger journey to Fangoso Lagoons, a landmass owned by Pierce. They encounter Manny di Presso, a legal practitioner suing Pierce's estate over the payment for human bones sold by his client. The bones were meant for the production of charcoal cigarette filters. Strikingly, Oedipa gets alerted that Manny's narrative bears similarities to a 17th-century drama, The Courier's Tragedy. Intrigued by the play, especially by the word "Tristero," she seeks enlightenment from the play's director, Randolph Driblette, who simply dismisses her curiosity. Despite this, Oedipa decides to dig deeper, leading her to the peculiar muted post horn symbol again, this time in the office of Stanley Koteks from the Inverarity-affiliated Yoyodyne company. Koteks introduces her to a scientist, John Nefastis, and his perpetually moving machine that seemingly violates the laws of physics. Oedipa's attempts to unravel the mystery behind The Courier's Tragedy lead her to an anthology of Jacobean revenge dramas and a meeting with the anthology's publisher. During her journey, she continually encounters the muted post horn symbol, even in the watermark of some of Pierce's stamps, as revealed by a philatelist, Genghis Cohen. A visit to Berkeley for a meeting with Nefastis ends in a distressing proposition and a lengthy night of wandering, during which she continually spots the muted post horn symbol, making her question her sanity. After an unsettling encounter with her paranoid, delusional doctor and her LSD-addicted husband, Mucho, she consults with Emory Bortz, a Jacobean revenge drama expert, to learn more about the Tristero. As the mysteries surrounding Pierce's estate and the Tristero continue to intertwine, she begins to suspect a massive hoax. The novel concludes with Oedipa attending an auction where Pierce's stamp collection is being sold as Lot 49, anxiously awaiting the appearance of a mysterious bidder who might hold the key to the whole puzzle.
chapter 1
On a warm summer day, Oedipa Maas comes home from an event to discover she's been appointed as the executor of her ex-lover, Pierce Inverarity's extensive and chaotic estate. She recalls Pierce's unpredictable character, having once squandered $2 million in a botched land deal. His death triggers strange thoughts in Oedipa, leading her to fear that she's falling ill. She remembers his odd habit of mimicking various accents and personalities when they were together. Oedipa determines to fulfill her responsibility towards Pierce's estate, despite her lack of experience with legal matters. She doubts that her husband, Mucho Maas, a radio DJ and former car salesman, would be of much assistance given his mental instability. Her husband's overinvestment in his previous job at the car dealership raises concerns about his mental health. In the middle of the night, Oedipa's physician, Dr. Hilarius, proposes she take part in a vaguely defined experiment involving LSD, to which she declines. The following day, her attorney, Roseman, suggests they elope, even though he doesn't have a plan. Reflecting on her meeting with Roseman, Oedipa realizes her relationship with Pierce was an attempt to escape something, but she's uncertain what that is. The chapter concludes with her envisioning herself as Rapunzel, stuck in a tower, with Pierce attempting to ascend her hair, only to tumble when it is revealed to be a wig.
chapter 2
Oedipa hits the road for San Narciso, the home of her late lover Pierce's law firm, Warpe, Wistfull, Kubitschek and McMingus. En route, she spots Yoyodyne's Galactronics Division, drawn to the town by tax advantages. She settles at the Echo Courts hotel where she encounters Miles, a paranoid hotel manager and singer in The Paranoids band. Miles misinterprets Oedipa's offer to share his band's music, believing she's flirting with him. Soon after, lawyer Metzger from Pierce's law firm shows up to guide Oedipa through the intricate process of managing the estate. As they delve into the complexities, Metzger shares his peculiar history as a child star, dubbed Baby Igor, over several rounds of tequila. As they drink, discuss and strategize, one of Metzger's old films airs on TV. This leads to a playful bet about the film's conclusion, and then a game of Strip Botticelli, where each answered question results in the removal of a garment. Oedipa, anticipating this, layers on as much clothing as she can, transforming herself into a layered, stuffed doll-like figure. Amidst dressing up, she accidentally releases a can of hairspray, causing chaos in the bathroom. Metzger rushes in to help, leading to a playful, chaotic scene. The moment is interrupted by Miles and his band, joined by a group of party-hungry teenage girls. Oedipa shoos them away, and they retreat to the hallway, singing songs. The game of Strip Botticelli resumes while Oedipa checks the bathroom, shocked by the damage caused by the hairspray can. Back in the room, she launches herself at Metzger, showering him with passionate kisses. Their evening evolves into a blend of passion and drunken stupor.
chapter 3
Following an affair with Metzger, Oedipa sees herself in the role of Rapunzel, hoping her exploration of Pierce's world might liberate her. She delves into Pierce's belongings, starting with his stamp collection, in an attempt to understand his chaotic life. Meanwhile, she continues her liaison with Metzger and receives trivial letters from Mucho, offering little news from Kinneret. One evening at The Scope bar, Oedipa and Metzger encounter Mike Fallopian, a far-right Peter Pinguid Society member. Their conversation about the group is interrupted when Oedipa sees an unclear symbol in the restroom, resembling a muted post-horn. It's accompanied by the name "Kirby" and an unknown acronym, WASTE. Back at the table, Fallopian discloses his society's opposition to the U.S. mail monopoly and his book project about postal history since the Civil War era. A few days later, Metzger and Oedipa, with company from The Paranoids and their girlfriends, venture to Fangoso Lagoons to explore Lake Inverarity, one of Pierce's significant properties. They encounter Manny di Presso, who is attempting to sue Inverarity's estate. Suddenly, two imposing men approach, causing the group to abscond on a boat. Di Presso reveals that his client, Tony Jaguar, claims Inverarity owes him for bones he retrieved from a gruesome World War II massacre site in Italy. A comment from one of The Paranoids likening di Presso's tale to the plot of The Courier's Tragedy, a Jacobean revenge drama, piques Oedipa and Metzger's curiosity, leading them to watch the play. The line, "No hallowed skein of stars can ward, I trow, / Who's once been set his tryst with Trystero," in the play deeply unsettles Oedipa, hinting at its future significance. After the show, Oedipa chats with the director, Randolph Driblette, about the play. They argue over Oedipa over-analyzing the drama, which Driblette insists is merely a straightforward revenge story. As she departs, Oedipa realizes she intended to talk about the bones, but instead ended up discussing Trystero.
chapter 4
Oedipa looks over Pierce's will again, noticing a reference to Yoyodyne, a company she saw on her way to San Narciso. She decides to join a shareholders meeting and ends up meeting Clayton Chiclitz, the firm's head. He offers a guided tour of the plant and Oedipa agrees. During the tour, Oedipa stumbles upon Stanley Koteks's office, where he's sketching the Tristero symbol. She reveals her stockholder status, triggering a discussion about patent laws and a device called the Nefastis Machine, invented by John Nefastis, a scientist based in Berkeley. Oedipa suspects she might be a "sensitive" capable of operating this machine and decides to get tested in Berkeley. She spots "Box 573" on Koteks's notepad, which she associates with W.A.S.T.E., an acronym she previously noticed in a bathroom. She later reconnects with Mike Fallopian who suggests Koteks might be part of a larger plot. Curious about Wharfinger and the Tristero, Oedipa acquires a copy of Jacobean Revenge Plays. The book is annotated with a reference to a Berkeley publisher, further motivating her to visit Berkeley. En route, she stops by Vesperhaven, a retirement home set up by Pierce. She encounters an elderly man named Mr. Thoth there who shares haunting dreams about his grandfather's violent past. He shows Oedipa a ring his grandfather took off a slain Indian, revealing the familiar muted post horn symbol. Baffled by these encounters, Oedipa seeks Fallopian's help to make sense of the situation. Despite failing to draw any conclusions, Fallopian hints at a link between Indian killers and old mail delivery systems. Oedipa then meets Genghis Cohen, a stamp expert hired to manage Pierce's stamp collection. Genghis shows her some "problem stamps," all bearing the muted post horn watermark. He also shows her German stamps from the Thurn and Taxis era carrying the same symbol. This triggers a memory in Oedipa from The Courier's Tragedy, leading her to believe someone is trying to silence the postal horn. Oedipa wraps up her detective work, realizing she's stumbled upon a massive conspiracy tied to a historic organization. She decides to keep her findings to herself.
chapter 5
Oedipa finds discrepancies in her copy of the Wharfinger play, noticing a missing reference to Tristero. Believing it may be due to a printing error, she seeks clarification from Emory Bortz, the UC-Berkeley professor who introduced the play in her anthology. She finds Bortz has moved but before following him, she visits John Nefastis's house to test his machine, as suggested by Koteks. Despite Nefastis's explanation of the machine's functionality based on entropy, she fails to operate it, proving she isn't a "sensitive". Nefastis invites her to sleep with him, which shocks her into fleeing. Oedipa becomes obsessed with the mystery of Tristero, beginning to view it as her personal Maxwell's Demon, a concept tying everything in her mind together. She reflects on the various components she's encountered: the Thurn and Taxis system, the muted post horn, the pre-1853 usage of the symbol in the U.S., the disguised men who fought Wells Fargo and the Pony Express, and the organization's reported survival. Her musings lead her to a gay bar, "The Greek Way", where she meets a man adorned with the Tristero symbol. Despite her efforts, he refuses to divulge information about Tristero but reveals that his pin signifies membership in Inamorati Anonymous, a group aimed at helping people overcome love addiction. Leaving the bar, Oedipa aimlessly roams the city, blurring reality with her imagination and seeing potential Tristero symbols everywhere. She stumbles upon a group of children who claim to know about the muted post horns and play hopscotch on Tristero symbols drawn in chalk. She encounters Jesus Arrabel, Pierce's old friend, reminding her of Pierce's influence on her life. She spots the acronym D.E.A.T.H. along with the muted horn symbol on a bus, in a Laundromat, and an airport bathroom. Her hallucinations worsen, making her see the muted post horns everywhere. She encounters an old man who gives her a letter to deliver to the "horn" people, and in return, she aids him and his elderly roommate. With the old man's letter, Oedipa finds a W.A.S.T.E-labeled can and observes its use as a post box. She follows the man who collects letters from this can through various exchanges and deliveries before he enters Nefastis's house. Tired, Oedipa returns to her hotel and unexpectedly becomes embroiled in a deaf-mute dance convention. She fleetingly speculates a deaf-mute conspiracy before dismissing it. Feeling overwhelmed, Oedipa resolves to return to her husband and consult a psychiatrist, Dr. Hilarius. She hopes he can convince her that the Tristero mystery is a product of her imagination. However, upon reaching Hilarius's house, she's caught in gunfire. Hilarius, reportedly suffering a mental breakdown, has barricaded himself in his office and is shooting indiscriminately. Oedipa manages to disarm him and the police arrest him. This ordeal is captured by numerous news crews, including her husband, Mucho. After recounting the incident on air, she chats with Mucho at the studio and realizes he's under the influence of LSD. Shocked by this revelation and the changes in her husband, Oedipa returns to San Narciso.
chapter 6
The novel's final chapter sees Oedipa reunite with The Paranoids at Echo Courts. Serge serenades her with a song about Vladimir Nabokov's main character, Humbert Humbert, from Lolita. Oedipa learns of Metzger's elopement with Serge's ex to Nevada, relinquishing his responsibilities regarding the Inverarity Estate. Oedipa reaches out to Professor Emory Bortz, a scholar of Wharfinger and Jacobean drama, and is invited over by his wife. En route, she discovers the used bookstore, where she purchased The Courier's Tragedy, turned to ashes by an arsonist. Arriving at Bortz's residence, Oedipa learns about a "pornographic" version of The Courier's Tragedy, found only in the Vatican. Bortz credits Driblette as the one who best understood Wharfinger, but he has recently committed suicide. Bortz introduces Oedipa to a Puritan group (the Scurvhanites), who modified The Courier’s Tragedy to include Tristero. He gifts her An Account of the Singular Peregrinations of Dr. Diocletian Blobb, which recounts an encounter with Tristero riders in black capes. Oedipa pieces together the creation of Tristero in 1577, following William of Orange's independence from Spain. A family feud over a postal monopoly leads to Tristero's establishment of a clandestine system. Bortz theorises about a failed merger between the two systems during the 30 Years' War. Oedipa learns about the decline of the Thurn and Taxis monopoly during the French Revolution, raising questions about Tristero's ultimate victory. Overwhelmed, Oedipa splits her time between libraries, meetings with Bortz and Genghis Cohen, and attending Driblette's funeral. Back at The Scope, Mike Fallopian suggests that the Tristero mystery might be a joke by Pierce, which Oedipa vehemently rejects. Oedipa receives a call from Genghis Cohen, revealing a stamp with the words "We Await Silent Tristero's Empire," connecting it to W.A.S.T.E acronym. The stamp came from Zapf's Used Bookstore, one of Pierce's many assets. Oedipa realises all roads leading her to Tristero originate from the Pierce Inverarity estate, hinting at a possible setup. Doubt and obsession consume Oedipa, resulting in health issues. Meanwhile, Genghis uncovers an 1865 article discussing the decline of Tristero due to internal conflict, and their migration to the west of America. Genghis informs Oedipa about an auction for Pierce's stamps (Lot 49) by a local dealer. An unknown "book bidder" represented by C. Morris Schrift piques Oedipa's curiosity. She attends the auction, contemplating the bidder's potential role in unravelling the Tristero mystery, as she awaits the crying of Lot 49.
