The Crying of Lot 49: Chapter 6

In the final chapter the author reveals the meaning of the Tristero. First Oedipa calls the professor Emory Bortz to discuss her curiosity and through him and their joint investigation the reader gets what they have waited for, a possible explanation. Oedipa visits Bortz and discusses the play she watched produced by Randy Driblette and the second hand book she found. Bortz shows her a book and tells her to read the eighth chapter. This tells the readers the history of Tristero, a man who goes to a kingdom to recieve his inheritance but is shunned, he gives up his claims and sets up his own postal corporation to match his cousin, this underground, revolutionary organization has been said to exist ever since. Also in this chapter Oedipa finds out about Dribelette's death and is mildly distraught. She now understands the mystery of the Tristero but is puzzeled by the dead man's use of the final lines in the play which are quoted several times, she wishes she knew why he used them.

Later Oedipa meets with Mike Fallopian again and he asks her if she is certain that she hasn't imagined some things about the Tristero. This question leaves Oedipa feeling alone since the only thing that was keeping her moving was the hope that should would uncover the mysterious Trister but now she has every single person in her life gone or turned against her. This shows how people shouldn't trade in material or unpermanent things for the human element because we will end up alone a hopeless like Oedipa. One thing that I found very interesting is the fact that all the traces of the Tristero, in Oedipa's mind, could be traced back in some way to her ex-boyfriend, Pierce Inverarity. This is more evidence that the Tristero could really be a figment of Oedipa's imaginiation and would make Pierce and the Tristero strong motifs throughout the entire novel. For example his stamp collection is covered in strange symbols or tiny alterations.

The fact that the Tristero was said to have seeked refuge by going to the United States made it a possible and believable underground, anti-monopoly organization but I think it is up to the reader to decide if it really exists. Also we find out the meaning of the title of the novel. The "lot 49" is Pierce's stamp collection that is up for auction and the the auctioneer "cries" the bidding. I found that this is such a small part of the story that it is a strange phrase to use as the title. I think that it is a relevant title because of the fact that the lot 49 was evidence of the Tristero, Oedipa's obsession, but either no one knew or they were trying to hide away and slowly get rid of all the pieces of the puzzel, either way Oedipa would lose everything. It is a precise but complicated title.

I liked how the author clearly explained the title and the Tristero and didn't leave the reader hanging, I felt very satisfied with the conclusion and explanations but found the book a little strange. Also, the author just left us waiting to find out who the bidder was at the auction which left me frustrated. I wonder why he left that part out? The novel is a type of detached but emotional novel, I don't think it is a serious as one may seem but may be making fun of present day society and how we have to always have answers. It is telling us to sometimes slow down or else we may lose everything of importance, a strong and simple message.