Paranoia is a very important topic in this book. It raises questions about Americans and the current lifestyle and also defines a generation. In the book he raises questions about what this generation worries about and what preoccupies our time. You can see this in a quote from the novel:

"You one of those right wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.

This shows the concern of the main characters as well as the confusion surrounding what they believe. It shows Oedipa's want of belonging too, and her being paranoid of being left out.

He uses it in some way to connect the reader to Oedipa, and is one of the strongest devices used. Throughout the book Oedipa is trying to find the meaning of things important and unimportant, this can be related to the person reading because they are also trying to decipher Pynchon's sometimes cryptic writing to reveal hidden meanings. This relates us to Oedipa because once we realize what is going on we can sympathize with her throughout the book. Also, the things in the book that oedipa becomes paranoid of(more of a feeling of mass chaos) we too get the feeling of chaos.

He tries to relate this feeling of paranoia and mass chaos to our generation by combining it with the California. It is often defined as being ruthless to your competitors in looks and fashion and competing with everyone around you on looks and wealth.

It also shows the drug culture of the 60's and how that can lead to paranoia. At one part Oedipa starts getting paranoid, seeing signs everywhere. This showed how many at the time let drugs control their lives and thoughts. It changed a generation of americans and the way they thought.