The protagonist in "The Crying of Lot 49" feels utterly isolated in a chaotic world, where everyone seems consumed by their own agendas or struggles. She perceives those around her as either afflicted by madness, presenting a potential threat, or simply absent from her life, including those who have died. This deep sense of loneliness heightens her existential crisis, as she grapples with the meaning and connections in her life.
This...