The Crying of Lot 49: Name List

While discussing The Crying of Lot 49 in class, we have spoken a lot about name meanings, both connotative and denotative. I thought it might be interesting, and fun, for us as a class to try and make a blog-posting list of names, name meanings (implied and sourced meaning), and what everyone might think the significance of the name is in relation to the novel itself.

Names: The tip of the Iceberg or a Facade of a Character

Analyzing names and Possible Significance to The Crying of Lot 49

(Please note I am using the same website for all name meanings for origins and meanings, everything else is analytical/debatable so feel free to give your own input and/or add to the list!)

Name: Thomas Pynchon

In relation to the author himself, Thomas, has a Greek origin (which one might believe is not coincidence when looking at the protagonist’s name and origin of story), as translates to “twin.” This, is analyzed, can give suggestions of duality, incompleteness or overabundance. Thomas Pynchon, in the novel The Crying of Lot 49, gives an incredible amount of information to readers. The information can sometimes come in waves, and make the pursuit of the story hindered. An overwhelming amount of small details and facts are unneeded, but are given for a reason. Whether or not this reason is to hinder or help can be debated.

Name: Pierce

Pierce is the “charactered” form of bait for the protagonist, Oedipa. It is Pierce's words that drive Oedipa to search for meaning, one might believe he is the source of her “quest,” of her “hero's journey.” Pierce looks like the word pierce, to puncture, to injure, to prod. Pierce does seemingly prod Oedipa to continue on, even if he is not present, and he is able to puncture her conscious mind into thinking of trying to figure out the “truth.” But does truth exist, is there actually a goal, a success at the end? Oedipa, at the end of The Crying of Lot 49 is frozen, injured, paralyzed. Pierce, in origin, is French (however this is debatable) and is a “Form of Peter.” Peter, in the bible, was a “speaker,” as he was the first to reveal Jesus was the Messiah. He is also known for his betrayal. Pierce speaks to Oedipa, becoming a driving force, like a voice of conscious.

Website used: www.namemeanings.com