The Crying of Lot 49

The Crying of Lot 49

by

Thomas Pynchon

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on The Crying of Lot 49 makes teaching easy.

Niccolò Character Analysis

The protagonist of Wharfinger’s fictional play The Courier’s Tragedy, Niccolò is the legitimate heir to the Dukedom of Faggio. Long before the events of the play, Niccolò’s illegitimate brother Pasquale plotted with the evil Duke of Squamuglia, Angelo, to take power by killing Niccolò. But the dissident Ercole saved Niccolò’s life and raised him in secret. The play revolves around Niccolò’s attempt to regain his rightful place in Faggio, and he spends much of the play in Angelo’s court, disguised as Thurn and Taxis employee. When Angelo sends him to deliver a letter to Gennaro, Niccolò realizes that he is about to finally win control over Faggio. But Angelo also sends Tristero bandits to kill Niccolò, and they do in a bizarre scene that convinces Oedipa to start investigating the mysterious Tristero for some deeper meaning.

Niccolò Quotes in The Crying of Lot 49

The The Crying of Lot 49 quotes below are all either spoken by Niccolò or refer to Niccolò. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Conspiracy, Interpretation, and Meaning Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

He that we last as Thurn and Taxis knew
Now recks no lord but the stiletto’s Thorn,
And Tacit lies the gold once-knotted horn.
No hallowed skein of stars can ward, I trow,
Who’s once been set his tryst with Trystero.

Related Characters: Randolph Driblette (speaker), Gennaro (speaker), Angelo, Niccolò
Related Symbols: The Tristero Muted Horn Symbol
Page Number: 58
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Crying of Lot 49 LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Crying of Lot 49 PDF

Niccolò Quotes in The Crying of Lot 49

The The Crying of Lot 49 quotes below are all either spoken by Niccolò or refer to Niccolò. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Conspiracy, Interpretation, and Meaning Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

He that we last as Thurn and Taxis knew
Now recks no lord but the stiletto’s Thorn,
And Tacit lies the gold once-knotted horn.
No hallowed skein of stars can ward, I trow,
Who’s once been set his tryst with Trystero.

Related Characters: Randolph Driblette (speaker), Gennaro (speaker), Angelo, Niccolò
Related Symbols: The Tristero Muted Horn Symbol
Page Number: 58
Explanation and Analysis: