The Crying of Lot 49 1/2

            In a bathroom, in a notebook, on a ring, and on some stamps, the loop/triangle/trapezoid appears, but what does it mean? My first guess is a trumpet with a plug in it, but I can’t be sure yet. The only fact I can gather is the shapes represent a symbol for W.A.S.T.E.

            The first appearance of the shapes occurs during Oedipa’s trip to the restroom. “On the latrine wall, among lipstick obscenities, she noticed the following message, neatly indited in engineering lettering: ‘Interested in sophisticated fun? You, hubby, girl friends. The more the merrier. Get in touch with Kirby, through WASTE only, Box 7391, L.A.’ WASTE? Oedipa wondered. Beneath the notice, faintly in pencil, was a symbol she’d never seen before, a loop, triangle and trapezoid…” (52) I do not think Kirby is important, but how did Oedipa know that the letters in the bathroom were “engineering lettering”?

            Luckily, the next time the symbol appears she is among an engineer in a building with which she holds stock. “Then by accident…or howsoever, she came on one Stanley Koteks, who wore wire-rim bifocals, sandals, argyle socks, and at first glance seemed too young to be working here. As it turned out he wasn’t working, only doodling with a fat felt pencil this sign:…” (84) At least this time the symbol appears, the person associated with it carries importance. Stanley leads Oedipa to John Nefastis, but more importantly, to Mr. Thoth.

            It is Mr. Thoth that reveals some meaning about the WASTE symbol. His grandfather was a Pony Express rider back during the gold rush days, and was attacked by men wearing all black. “‘My grandfather cut this from the finger of one of them he killed. Can you imagine a 91-year-old man so brutal?’ Oedipa stared. The device on the ring was once again the WASTE symbol.” (92) So, the WASTE symbol has something to do with mailing letters, or the post system, but what?

            The next clue given to the reader and the next instance of the WASTE symbol materializes into stamps. “‘The watermark.’ Oedipa peered. There it was again, her WASTE symbol, showing up black, a little right of center…Decorating each corner of the stamp, Oedipa saw a horn with a single loop in it. Almost like the WASTE symbol. ‘A post horn,’ Cohen said; ‘the Thurn and Taxis symbol. It was in their coat of arms.’” (96)

            At last! The WASTE symbol forms into a muted post horn! “The black costumes, the silence, the secrecy. Whoever they were their aim was to mute the Thurn and Taxis post horn.” (97) This explanation sits just fine with me, but who in the world is Thurn and Taxis? This novel only leaves me with more questions!