Reflections on Life and Death: The Crying of Lot 49

The final pages of the book The Crying of Lot 49 mark the reader the most because they escape the fictitious world in order to give the reader many insights about life. Oedipa never really discovered Pierce’s true intentions with the Trystero mystery. Although this may disappoint the reader, it actually gives us a life lesson much more valuable than the true identity of the stamp bidder or Oedipa’s fate. The novel ends with the words “Oedipa settled back, to await the crying of lot 49.” (p. 152). These few words, contained in the title as well, possess a vast significance. As the mystery unfolded, Oedipa became less and less curious about the outcome of events, until finally, at the auction, she didn’t care at all about what could happen. By saying the words “Oedipa settled back”, Pynchon is actually implying that in life, one must tranquilly wait for events to occur and not fret about what may or may not happen. What matters is the journey, not the final destination. Pierce’s true intentions were never revealed, which shows us that the end does not justify the means, but rather the means justify themselves. Who cares about the truth when you are doing what you think is correct, like Oedipa?

Like the Trystero mail system, life is composed of many hidden truths. There is always a reason, a plan, that explains the outcomes of every major event in life. Fate is not determined by luck or a predestined existence, but rather by a plot someone or something made up in order to alter the course of events. “Look at England, the king about to loose its head. A set-up.” (p. 130). What Pynchon is really trying to say is that everything happens for a reason. Many times we don’t know what this explanation is, and therefore recur to destiny as a justification for the events that happened. Like the Trystero, the real reason behind events is often a mystery which needs to be uncovered; however, the mystery is always there, no matter how difficult it may be to find it.

Death is a reality none of us can avoid, a fact that us humans cannot alter. Throughout the course of history, many men have tried to achieve eternal life, starting with Ponce de Leon’s search for the Fountain of Eternal Youth in Florida, continuing with Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone, and finally concluding with all the esthetic surgeries and procedures people subject themselves to today in order to look younger. However, like the Seventh Seal, death is always present. It haunts us everywhere we go, up to the point where it becomes completely unavoidable even in our fantasies. “‘Notice how often the figure of Death hovers in the background.” (p. 125). Although we cannot escape death, we can escape the dullness of life. Many times people break the rules not because they want to achieve a special purpose, but because it makes them feel free and powerful in an existence which will always lead to death. "Onto a network (Trystero) by which X number of Americans are truly communicating whilst reserving their lies, recitations of routine, arid betrayals of spiritual poverty, for the official government delivery system; maybe even onto a real alternative to the exitlessness, to the absence of surprise to life, that harrows the head of every American you know, and you too, sweetie.” (p. 141). People could have their letter delivered in the same way by the U.S. Postal system, but they decide to keep the Trystero alive just because they want to put an edge to their lives and break the pattern of events they would otherwise be subjected to.

Once we die, every memory of our existence is forgotten forever. Pierce managed to prolong his life with the Trystero mystery and his numerous assets around the state; therefore, he will be remembered for a vast amount of time. “…he might even have tried to survive death, as a paranoia… had a plot finally been devised too elaborate for the dark Angel to hold at once …?” (p. 148). Death cannot be avoided, but oblivion can be evaded. The only thing Pynchon tells us to do is to leave a legacy, a mark of our existence in the world which will able everybody to remember us by. Many individuals, such as Jesus, Einstein, and Madame Curie, have been so successful in achieving this purpose that they are known more than most of the people that exist in the world today. “‘Keep it bouncing,’ he’d told her once, ‘that’s all the secret, keep it bouncing.’” (p. 148).