A Big Joke

As the reader approaches the last chapter in the book, Pynchon once again decides to twist the story. After a whole book full of satire, I would have expected some sort of sum up of ideas or conclusion at the end. It could have been the only connection that was made by the author. What happens is Oedipa gives up on her mysterious quest and "settled back, to await the crying of lot 49” (152). It may have been the dissolution of the mystery she was trying to uncover or part of the simple joke in the book. As Pynchon himself taught us, the book is making fun of itself. The ending makes the readers form their own conclusion and guess what will become of Oedipa. Even though I may never know the true reason Pynchon choose this ending, the most probable motive is to make the reader laugh. What I may have thought was important turned out to be part of the big joke Pynchon played for the audience.

The wiki library turned out to be very helpful. I regret not having discovered it earlier since it helps you make the connections that you would otherwise not have made. Pynchon requires his audience to be a very educated and cult people. If they are not the connections may be missed. This would make Pynchon’s target a very educated one. These people could enjoy the book at its fullest; however most people do not know what some of the jokes mean. This wiki library makes the book much more universal and not only helps the reader but the author. As I end this journey I am not sure whether everything I read was a big joke or if part of the story, was for the stories sake. Just by thinking about this the story is turning into a joke. This is Pynchon’s real talent, the ability to keep a reader guessing. It is the great joke.