not funny

In my opinion, the only humorous thing The Crying of Lot 49 is the names Pynchon picks for his characters. My favorite by far is Manny DiPresso, like Manic Depressive. It sums up his character perfectly and is quite funny. Another good one is Genghis Cohen. Gengis Kan, good one Pynchon. The last name of Maas is also pretty funny considering the book is somewhat about consumerism, it is pretty amusing that the main character’s last name would mean more. Other than the names, I really do not see Pynchon’s humor at all. I’m sure he thought he was hilarious (as most people do) but most of his humor is just too abstract. Like his Peter Pingiud society. Would anyone actually get the reference if their Literature professor did not explain it to them? Also his random little puns like the living room barely work. That one is not so hard to figure out, but it is not that funny. It is certainly interesting and clever, but I cannot see this line making anyone laugh. Perhaps he throws in his off-brand of humor to confuse the reader and amuse himself. Maybe this book was funny in 1965 when it came out, but it is not so much anymore.

Mission Get Away From Humanity

Gulliver has spent this entire book moving himself further and further away from humanity, until finally he feels he is no longer part of it. He starts this process in with the Lilliputians. After some time living with them, he starts to picture himself as one of them. This does not stick though, he returns home and things continued as they were before. Not really wanting to be with his family, Gulliver leaves again. He starts to identify with the Brobdingnagians. It sticks with him for longer this time, when he returns home he spazs out about how small everything is. He had begun to identify with the Brobdingnagians so much that he looks at the world as if he were one of them. Even though he is finally back home after years of being away, he leaves again. He never stays long at home because he does not want to identify with humanity anymore. He does not truly integrate himself into another race until he finds himself in the land of the Houynhnms. He fits in the best with them, because they are the furthest thing from humans he has found. Every other race he has encountered, at least had the appearance and actions of humans. In addition to being horses, the Houynhnms do not act like humans in the least. They appear very emotionless. Since emotion is a major part of being human, Gulliver would honor that in this race. The Houynhnms were the perfect race for Gulliver, because he has been trying so hard to get away from humanity and he seemingly achieved it with the Houynhnms.

Mrs. Gulliver

The thing I constantly wonder about while reading Gulliver’s travels, is why his wife has not left him yet. He was gone for three years, in Lilliput. When he finally returned he left again two months later, despite her begging. Mrs. Gulliver was left alone with children for another four years while her husband was off with the giants of Brobdingnag. At his return, they most have considered him insane, for all his ramblings. She must have begged him to stay, he has disappeared without warning twice now, but he leaves any way two months later. He disappears to Laputa and the areas around it for four years. Mrs. Gulliver may be used to this by now, but it is getting ridiculous. He finally returns only to leave her again, pregnant this time, this time for five years. I can only imagine that he was presumed dead each time he disappeared. That must have done a lot of damage to her, but not as much as his continuing willingness to leave her all alone. Not only is it hard when Gulliver is not there, but I imagine it is difficult as well when Gulliver is home. He must not be that great of a husband to go years without thinking about his family back home. That must not be fun to live with. Next his low opinion of humanity, specifically women, must have been especially annoying and difficult to live with. Maybe she was secretly happy whenever Gulliver disappeared, I know I would be.