The Crying of Lot 49

Main Characters and Their Development

• Oedipa Maas: The novel's protagonist. Oedipa receives a letter stating that she has been appointed the executor of her former lover Pierce Inverarity's will. In the process of fulfilling this task, she encounters a mysterious organization called Tristero and begins to question the reality of the world around her. Oedipa undergoes internal changes, moving from skepticism and distrust to full immersion in conspiracy theories.
• Pierce Inverarity: Oedipa's former lover and a wealthy businessman whose will becomes the catalyst for the novel's events. Although he dies before the story begins, his influence on the plot and Oedipa's life is felt throughout the novel.
• Metzger: A lawyer who helps Oedipa with Pierce's will. He becomes her lover, but their relationship becomes increasingly complicated as Oedipa delves deeper into the mysteries of Tristero.
• Dr. Hilarius: Oedipa's psychiatrist, who conducts experimental research using LSD. His behavior becomes increasingly eccentric and paranoid, reflecting the overall atmosphere of distrust and chaos in the novel.
• Mike Fallopian: A member of a society studying alternative postal systems. He assists Oedipa in her investigation of Tristero, providing her with information and theories that further complicate her understanding.
• Randolph Driblette: A playwright whose play «The Courier's Tragedy» contains hints about the existence of Tristero. His work and personality play a significant role in the development of Oedipa's storyline.