A Feminist Reading of (Oedipa Maas in) The Crying of Lot 49

Abstract

In this paper, The Crying of Lot 49, Thomas Pynchon's second novel, is being discussed through the lenses of feminism and Michel Foucault's theory of the new/general history in order to evaluate the accomplishment achieved by its heroine, Oedipa Maas: to see how successfully she has performed her job as a historian trying to piece together the history of the mysterious and subversive "Tristero." It is also hoped that this paper will help to raise the consciousness of the readers, especially the female ones, so that when (re-)reading this story, they will not only become more aware of the oppression experienced by the women living under a patriarchal society/system but try to prevail it.