Our Existence in Two Worlds: The Crying of Lot 49, Chapter Five

Our lives are marked by a succession of events that in one way or another influence who we are and what we accomplish; however, these incidents are relative. What may seem important or controversial to us is influenced by the people, goals, and feelings we cherish at that particular moment. The muted post horn and the Thurn and Taxis sys tem were Oedipa’s main focuses in life at the moment she began seeing the horn drawing everywhere she looked at. “And spend the rest of the night finding the image of the Trystero post horn.” (p. 94). When your mind is focused on something specific, everything around you suddenly becomes relevant and related to the purpose you want to accomplish. This principle undermines the idea of a predestined fate in the sense that what your mind sees and interprets is not always what is there, but what is important at that moment. “Now here was Oedipa, faced with a metaphor of God knew how many parts; more than two, anyway. With coincidences blossoming these days wherever she looked, she had nothing but a sound, a word, Trystero, to hold them all together.” (p. 87). It can be inferred that fate is just a product of each person’s mind, which remembers certain events not because of destiny, but because it sees what it wants to see. Einstein’s theory of relativity is not only true in the tangible universe we inhabit, but in the private, subjective worlds that exist in each of our minds as well.

According to this theory, humans inhabit two worlds: one in which experiences are lived, and another private one which interprets, analyzes, and sorts these events. “Since they could not have withdrawn into a vacuum (could they?), there had to exist the separate, silent, unsuspected world.” (p. 101). It can be said that the Earth and Tralfamadore were Billy Pilgrim’s two worlds, the last one being the personal universe that unfolded inside his mind. According to Dr. Hilarious, our subjective worlds mold our characters and make us the individuals we reveal to be in the external world. Fantasies, dreams, and illusions are formed in our minds and influence the actions we commit and the goals we accomplish in life. “‘Cherish it!’ cried Hilarious, fiercely. ‘What else do any of you have? Hold it tightly by its little tentacle, don’t let the Freudians coax it away or the pharmacists poison it out of you. Whatever it is, hold it dear, for when you lose it you go over by that much to the others. You begin to cease to be.” (p. 113). Both worlds, therefore, are necessary to carry on with one’s existence: the tangible world to make you real and the subjective world to mold your mind and soul into being a unique individual.

There is nothing more than this existence in parallel, alternate universes. The figure of God and other superior beings, therefore, is just and illusion which takes form inside our minds. “‘You know what a miracle is. Not what Bakunin said. But another world’s intrusion into this one. Most of the time we coexist peacefully, but when we do tough there’s cataclysm..” (p. 97). Each person’s minds recreates different forms of superior beings, whether it be conscience, the universe, or an all-powerful god. Our mind gains part of an identity, which is in charge of uniting our surroundings with what we think and who we are. When this is accomplished, a miracle, or an intersection between two parallel universes, takes place. Miracles were taking place in Oedipa’s mind every time she saw the Trystero symbol, which connected the exterior world with the one inside her mind. For the Stoics, miracles were taking place every time they managed to behave indifferently towards the events that took place. According to this, exterior happenings are molded by the all-powerful presence the mind has conceived in order to create an interpretation and a response that unfolds in the tangible world.

Another detail that caught my attention was the ethical dilemma raised when Oedipa decided to aid Dr. Hilarious instead of running away. “Oedipa noticed that the window opened on a safe line of retreat. ‘You could’ve run,’ she said.” (p. 108). Instead of fleeing, Oedipa chose to enter the psychiatrist’s office, although her own life was at stake because of the gun Hilarious was holding. “In front of his door, Oedipa stood hipshot awhile, questioning her own sanity. Why hadn’t she split out through Blamm’s window and read about the rest of it in the paper?” (p. 109). Everybody is confronted with decisions they must make in life. Many times, we are presented with options that will provide an easy solution to the problem. We must choose between that or its alternative, which is to get involved in the problem. This will probably be a barrier in one's life, but will ultimately benefit the greatest amount of people. Although the first option is easier and better for us, we often decide to make a sacrifice for other people. This decision is influenced by the morality one possesses, by an inner force commonly called conscience that makes a person feel remorseful when he or she is acting selfishly. Someone’s conscience is personal; thus, this force inhabits in the subjective worlds inside our minds. If our reality is divided completely between the external and internal worlds, what determines the ability of a superior force to act upon us and influence the decisions we make?


Vocabulary:

Numen (plural numina): The spirit or divine power presiding over a thing or place.

Cherubic: having a child-like innocence.

Interregnum: a period when normal government is suspended; an interval or a pause between two events.

Grit: small, loose particles of stone or sand; courage, resolve, and strength of character.

Innocuous: not harmful or offensive.