56 pages • 1-hour read
The Crying of Lot 49
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Essay Topics
In what ways does Oedipa adhere to stereotypes of mid-20th-century American housewives? In what ways does she defy these stereotypes? How does this change as the novel progresses?
How does the inclusion of The Courier's Tragedy as a story within a story affect the portrayal of alienation in the novel?
What is the symbolic meaning of the muted post horn? How is this meaning played with throughout the novel?
In what ways does the novel explore the theme of oppressive constructs and hidden trauma? What does this say about the search for meaning in a postmodern world?
To what extent does Oedipa become lost to the drift of modern existence? Does she try to stop this? Explain Oedipa and her culture’s alienation and aimlessness.
Oedipa wants to know whether the Tristero conspiracy is real. To what extent does this question even matter? To what extent do any of her pursuits matter?
To what extent must Oedipa confront and overcome her preconceived notions of the world in order to continue her investigation?
Dr. Hilarius suffers from a mental breakdown. How does this breakdown inverse his relationship with Oedipa? What does this say about medicine’s role in postmodern society?
To what extent does Oedipa inhabit different social expectations as a way of uncovering information? What does this signify?
The novel ends just as an auction is about to begin. What is the significance of ending the novel at this precise moment? What might an auction mean for Oedipa’s quest for truth?
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