A Studyof Entropy's Metaphorical Meaning In T.R. Pynchon's The Crying Of Lot 49

Thomas Pynchon is one of the prominent novelists in postmodern American literature. Most of his works apply entropy to contemplate the present world.The thesis is an understanding of Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49, especially, of his use of entropy in revealing the reality of the postmodern world. Based on textual analysis, this thesis makes a study of the entropic existence, the entropic fate, and tragic ending of people, and various metaphorical meanings of entropic phenomena. Through studying Pynchon's creative use of entropy to analyze, reflect, and satire the crux of the real world, the research demonstrates Pynchon's concern over the disorder and chaos in the postwar American society. The thesis falls into five parts.Chapter one explores Pynchon's scarce life experiences and his literary position.In Chapter two, entropy's definition in science and its metaphorical meanings on society are explicated. Pynchon's creative use of entropy in his novels is also discussed.Chapter three approaches The Crying of Lot 49, elaborating Oedipa and other tragic figures'entropic fate, the resistence of the marginalized underground organizations, and the uncertainty of human being.Chapter four illustrates Pynchon's diagnosis of postmodern world. Disorder and dislocation are everywhere. Entropy drowns in everything. The alienated human communication against the closed system does not decrease entropy effectively.The conclusion summarizes that Pynchon is an intellectual critic, who reveals that disorder and chaos are the characteristics of human world. He regards entropic phenomena as a social disease. The metaphorical meaning of entropy means that human society will inevitably decline into the disorder and chaos. In the alienated and isolated entropic society, human being can't communicate with each other effectively.