Subversion of Gender Roles through Androgynous Characteristics in Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49

Abstract

The Crying of Lot 49, the protagonist offers idea of androgyny that Woolf exalts in A Room of One' Own (1929). However, this paper argues that Thomas Pynchon does not rely on stereotypical gender differences and critiques the pitfall of gender and sexual condition in The Crying of Lot 49. Oedipa Maas is anandrogynous character and she subverts gender roles. Pynchon depicts an idea of androgyny throughout the protagonist acts. She does heroic adventure in post twentieth century by challenging traditional gender roles and creating new gender as androgynous. Protagonist does not end her journey even in adventure,it is her continuation to her objective,and emerges as the new hero by dismantling gender role.The present research tries to look at the novel from the perspective of Pynchon’s employment of unconventional portrait of women, primarily Oedipa Maas, as an agent, an independent being and a freedom seeker. Herstruggleis portrayed through her unstoppable struggle and an internal passion for complete independence and individual identity.She represents postmodern gender role which is changing. She departs from traditional gender roles and dismantles gender role. Her transgression from confine to free working, independent and heroic woman that makes her self-guided and her acts show societal change slowly and gradually.