Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Confederacy of Dunces, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Medievalism, Modernity, and Fate
The Legacy of Slavery
Sexuality, Attraction, and Repulsion
Freedom
Appearance, Identity, and Disguise
Hypocrisy and Self-Interest
Summary
Analysis
Ignatius has a stomachache and believes his valve is stuck. He tries to burp to relieve the pain and knows that it is partly caused by eating so many hot dogs. However, he feels that there is more to it than this. Irene has been acting very strangely and he thinks she might have joined an extreme political group—she has seemed unusually interested in his political beliefs recently. On top of this, he has had a series of nightmares about Myrna Minkoff. In one, Myrna pushed him in front of a train.
Ignatius has a medieval understanding of biology which he believes is superior to a modern scientific one. In his view, all physiological symptoms are brought on by external imbalances in one’s life. He sees Irene’s rebellion against him (he used to be able to control her easily) as a sign of this disorder. Irene believes that Ignatius is a communist and interrogates his political beliefs because of this. Her behavior parodies American paranoia about communism in the mid-20th century. Ignatius’s violent dream about Myrna suggests that he is conflicted about her, which supports the idea that (like his conflicting attitudes about sex and popular culture) he both despises and is drawn to her.
Themes
Ignatius’s job as a hot dog vendor is not going well either. There is little interest in hot dogs among the inhabitants of the French Quarter. One morning, Ignatius reads in the paper that the Women’s Art Guild is hosting an outdoor show of their work in Pirate’s Alley. He has made a new sign for the hot dog cart (it reads “Twelve Inches of Paradise”) and he trundles down to Pirate’s Alley to try and sell to the ladies. When Ignatius arrives, however, the women are horrified and tell him to go away.
It is ironic that Ignatius, who is disgusted by sex and the way that sex is used in modern advertising, inadvertently makes a sexual innuendo on his hot dog sign. Although Ignatius views modernity as hypersexual, the women are very offended by the double entendre and this suggests that the general public’s worldview is more puritanical than Ignatius suspects.
Themes
Ignatius then notices the artwork on display, mostly still-life paintings of flowers, and cries out that it is an affront to taste and decency. The ladies tell him that he does not have to look at it and throw things at him as he walks away. Tired, Ignatius stumbles into a nearby alley and slumps down on the steps of a cathedral. Dorian Greene waltzes up to Ignatius and asks him what on Earth he is supposed to be in his costume. Dorian says Ignatius looks like a “fortune teller.”
Ignatius is as offended by the ladies’ artwork as they are by the sexual hot dog sign. This suggests that culture is subjective—things that are considered shocking and offensive by some might be considered innocuous or even valuable by others. Dorian is associated with costume and Carnival throughout the novel and encourages people to dress up because he knows that, in disguise, people are able to reveal their true selves. This links to his reference of a fortune teller, as these figures are believed to uncover people’s secrets.
Themes
Ignatius snaps at Dorian to go away. When Dorian doesn’t leave, Ignatius asks irritably about Irene’s hat, which Dorian bought from her in the Night of Joy. Dorian says the hat was destroyed at a party and Ignatius is disgusted. Dorian continues to tease Ignatius and Ignatius says he will call the police. Dorian says it is Ignatius who will be arrested in that outfit, and Ignatius throws his boot at Dorian. The two begin to spar and Ignatius hacks at Dorian’s expensive sweater with the toy cutlass. The ladies’ guild, noticing the commotion, begin to flee with their artwork.
Although Ignatius is only dressed as a pirate, the costume has an absurd effect on him and causes him to actually behave like one and duel people with his sword. This demonstrates the power of disguise and the temporary transformation that it can bring about in people.
Themes
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Dorian and Ignatius are distracted from their fight when a man dressed as a sailor passes. Ignatius calls out for assistance, but Dorian says that this is “only Timmy” and that he is not a real sailor. Ignatius is horrified that someone would impersonate a naval officer—the armed forces may be full of homosexuals in disguise. Dorian thinks this would be wonderful and is delighted when he sees Patrolman Mancuso follow Timmy at a distance. Dorian tells Ignatius that everyone knows Mancuso is an undercover policeman and that they simply love his outfits.
Almost everyone Ignatius encounters in the French Quarter is also in disguise, suggesting that things in this part of the city are not always what they seem and that the usual order of life does not apply here. This supports the idea that many people who could not live openly in respectable American society (such as homosexual men like Dorian and Timmy) live freely in the French Quarter by using disguise. In this sense, costumes can empower people and ironically enable them to leave their lives more authentically than they would be able to if they presented their true selves to the world.
Themes
Ignatius is suddenly struck by an idea for how to get back at Myrna. If homosexuals infiltrated politics and the armed forces, he thinks, world peace could be achieved. Everyone would be too busy fornicating to start any violent wars. Ignatius suggests this to Dorian, who laughs that this would be brilliant. Ignatius feels triumphant—Myrna has often said that sex must be brought into politics and now Ignatius has a perfect method for this. He tells Dorian that they must organize a political campaign, but Dorian loses interest and says this sounds boring.
Ignatius has an extremely stereotypical view of homosexuals and does not view them as individuals who are free to make decisions for themselves. This mirrors Ignatius’s treatment of the black workers during the race riot and suggests that he sees minorities as inferior groups whom he can use to benefit himself as a social activist and to annoy Myrna.
Themes
Ignatius insists that Dorian must help him bring about a political revolution and that they must have a party. Dorian perks up at the idea of a party and agrees to host one. He says that Ignatius must wear his pirate costume—he loves people in fancy dress because it reminds him of Mardi Gras. Ignatius says that the party must have blue, white, and red banners, and Dorian grows excited about decorating.
This passage suggests that political parties rely heavily on presentation and outward appearances. Political groups often conceal their true intentions of benefitting themselves by pretending to help and represent the needs of others. Mardi Gras is a Carnival which takes place in New Orleans. The idea of Carnival also relates to the medieval ideas which run throughout the novel, as Carnival (a period of time in which the normal order of society was considered to be reversed and people masqueraded as members of a different class) was considered an important part of medieval society which helped maintain balance between the nobles and the peasants.
Themes
Timmy wanders past again, followed by Patrolman Mancuso, and Ignatius snaps that, if Timmy is caught, their plan will be ruined. Dorian sighs that Timmy is rather dim and says that, of course, the party will be fancy dress. Ignatius cautiously agrees and Dorian says that he will go and warn Timmy that he has been followed. Ignatius feels that his wheel is in a bad cycle and that he must be desperate to associate with Dorian Greene. Still, the thought of getting revenge on Myrna cheers him up and he sets off again in search of some customers.
Ignatius does not feel that he has a choice about the direction his life takes, but really, there is no reason why Ignatius must associate with Dorian if he doesn’t want to. This suggests that Ignatius secretly does want to be involved with Dorian, even if he cannot admit this to himself because he is homophobic.
Themes
