Ethos Pynchon

The late 20th century exhibited a revolutionary movement in the arts known as postmodernism, which ultimately became quintessential in every aspect of literature and culture. It developed as technology, consumerism, and the media were growing at an insane rate. It replaced modernism since modern culture was being redefined through the rise of new information and technology. Postmodernism expresses that the world is in a state of incompleteness and uncertainty. As a result of this uncertainty, postmodernism contains skeptical interpretations of literature, culture, government, and technology. Considering the skepticism entailed in postmodernism, postmodern literature then displays the world as an uncertain entity full of distrustful and doubtful

Although Pynchon is reclusive and appears to only have a few photos online, his thought-provoking and imaginative novels represent a genius who is informed about the world. Pynchon’s famous work, The Crying of Lot 49, tells the story through Oedipa Mass, an innocent woman who has been thrown into a complex state of affairs involving a dead ex-boyfriend and a mysterious secretive postal network known as the Tristero. The novel also introduces Pynchon’s unique writing style, which involves scientific and philosophical concepts and a vast cast of oddly-named characters. Regarding the numerous issues and themes in The Crying of Lot 49, the most persistent and underlying of all is paranoia. Paranoia can be defined as, “a psychotic disorder characterized by delusions of persecution, which result in suspicion and mistrust of people of their actions without evidence or justification, usually defended with apparent logic and reason” (“Paranoia”). Throughout the entire novel, paranoia manipulates the actions and thoughts of the characters, going so far as having Oedipa question reality as a result of her interactions with delusional individuals in San

For example, after entering her hotel, she encounters Miles, a musician for the band, “The Paranoids” (27). First of all, the band name is a playful device Pynchon uses to foreshadow paranoia in the novel. Secondly, after Oedipa’s brief conversation with Miles, he comes to the conclusion she wants to have sex with him, and saying “you hate me too” (28). As a result of this unreasonable situation, Oedipa calls him a “paranoiac” (28). Although Miles is a minor character, he is the first character Oedipa meets in San Narciso. His role in the novel creates an atmosphere of fear and distrust for Oedipa as she is trying to navigate through San Narciso. Another representation of paranoia is Pynchon’s minor character, Manny Di Presso, a lawyer who Oedipa and Metzger meet. Di Presso believes that either the Mafia, or “Tony J.” keeps tabs on him. He states that, “They’ve been listening. All the time, somebody listens in, snoops; they bug your apartment, they tap your phone…” (63). Again, Pynchon shows us yet another character who is consumed by paranoia, further engraving postmodern thinking within his