Whether a person’s life is something experienced authentically, or factually written down as literature, there are more complexities faced then there are simplicities on a daily basis. This multifariousness causes constant bewilderment and hesitation before any sort of important decision a person must make in his or her life. When it comes to characters of the written words, as soon sensations of ambiguity, uncertainty, and paranoia form, the outlook and actions of these characters are what usually result in regrettable decisions and added anxiety for both that character as well as the reader. Examples of these themes affecting characters in the world of fiction are found in the novel The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon, and the play Glengarry Glen Ross written by David Mamet. Throughout both of these texts, characters such as Oedipa Maas who allows these emotions to guide her in her journey of self discovery, and Shelly Levene who is so overcome with these emotions that they become his downfall. For both of these characters, these constant emotional themes are what guide their most impulsive actions, which can generally also become regrettable decisions. Even though it is a distinguishing factor of human beings, when these characters are portrayed in print, it somehow seems to affect the reader more, because they are able to see the fictional repercussions, and also know how they could have been avoided.
Oedipa Mass is the protagonist of Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49, who looks into her ex-boyfriend Pierce Inverarity’s life and legacy after she is named executor of his estate upon his death. As she examines Pierce’s life, she begins to discover details about herself that she was never sure existed before. The only th...
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...lengarry Glen Ross, also allows paranoia to guide his decisions. Rather than allow his paranoia to control all aspects and choices he makes in his life, he regrettably permits his paranoia to break into the office of his workplace. Although he loses his reputation and job, Levene, unlike Oedipa, is able to understand his error and is instantly remorseful for his actions. Whereas Oedipa continues to follow her paranoia into what could be nothing of importance. If either of these characters were to have characteristics of living human beings, it would not take long to reconsider the actions they planned to make before orchestrating them –but then it would not make for interesting literature.
Word Count: 2137
Works Cited:
Mamet, David. Glengarry Glen Ross: A Play. New York: Grove, 1984. Print.
Pynchon, Thomas. The Crying of Lot 49. New York: Perennial Classics, 1986.
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