"Gravity's Rainbow"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how, in "Gravity's Rainbow", Pynchon intertwines a lot of references to science in order to make us understand how science is destructive and how it creates wars and deadly weapons. In particular, the paper examines some of many scientific theories that Pynchon explores such as astrology, spiritism and mathematical use of Zipf's Principle of Least Effort and the message that Pynchon conveys through them.

From the Paper:

"Astrology is a pseudo-science widely use in Gravity's Rainbow. There are plenty of references to astrology in the book. As we have seen in reading The Crying of Lot 49 and as we continue to see in Gravity's Rainbow, Pynchon does not chose the names of his protagonists without reflexion. Some names have meanings; that is why it is important to consider them. In Gravity's Rainbow, names of certain characters have an astrological meaning. Scorpia Mossmoon, for example, has her name derivate from the sign Scorpio, which has the significance of travel to higher realms of experience, as mediumship, occultism and psychic abilities, themes that we can find widely in the novel. Scorpia's last name, Mossmoon, also refers to astrology, as well as Selena (the surviving wife of the spirit in the seance)."

More papers on "Gravity's Rainbow":

• Analytical Essay # 25535 : "Gravity's Rainbow: The Musical"
• Analytical Essay # 25524 : "Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow"
• Analytical Essay # 28106 : "Music in "The Crying of Lot 49"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: