CoL49 (6) The Crying of Lot 49

[Dave Monroe]

"The auctioneer cleared his throat. Oedipa settled back, to await the
crying of lot 49." (Lot
49, Ch. 6, p. 183)

http://www.nbu.bg/webs/amb/american/6/pynchon/lot6.htm
http://www.innternet.de/~peter.patti/thomaspynchon-thecryingoflot49.htm

Much to be said about that final sentence, up to and including the way
it serves as a sort of sticky end to a (not inappropriate in the
least) Moebius strip with the book's title ("the open work" vs.
closure, anyone?), but, while it's at hand ...

>From Thomas H. Schaub, "Pynchon's Library," Approaches to Teaching
Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 and Other Works , ed. Thomas H, Schaub
(NY: MLA, 2008), pp. 31-8:

"Students ... should no be in a position to understand why Trystero
cannot be found and why the novel's ending provides no resolution to
Oedipa's quest.  For, were Trystero to be found, it would become
simply or 'just' Trystero, another element inside Oedipa's world and,
like other elements in that world, subject to its entropic forces."
(p. 38)

http://www.mla.org/store/CID23/PID336

I still remember my (very real, very depressing) existential crisis
when I thought that perhaps Hollander had finally "solved" the novel.
However, perhaps the point is, if it can be resolved, it can be
re-solved over and over again, remaining solvent ...

Q: How'd y'all feel when you first hit that final sentence?  Howzabout
these days?  Let me know.  Thanks.  To all who've hosted,
participated, or otherwise endured ...