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
Mr. Gonzalez, the office manager at Levy Pants, arrives at work early every morning. He hopes to get some credit for this from his boss, Mr. Levy, who hates the factory and tries to stay away from it, but Mr. Levy just complains about everything to do with the business. Mr. Gonzalez does not have many regular employees, except an elderly lady named Miss Trixie who has been with the company for years, and who Mr. Levy has given strict orders not to retire. Mr. Gonzalez desperately needs new staff because everyone he hires tends to quit without notice.
Mr. Levy wants to avoid responsibility for the factory and tries to free himself from it as much as possible. Miss Trixie, by contrast, is trapped at Levy Pants and cannot enter the freedom of retirement because of Mr. Levy’s orders, which Mr. Gonzalez finds inexplicable.
Themes
Miss Trixie comes into the office, carrying the large bags full of junk which she always has with her. Ignatius enters the office and Mr. Gonzalez hopes that he has come to apply for the job. Mr. Gonzalez greets Ignatius cheerfully and offers to take his things. Ignatius likes the dingy, sleepy office very much; it reminds him of his room at home. He notices Miss Trixie falling asleep at her desk and thinks this is the workplace for him.
Ignatius wants to have the appearance of being employed without putting in any work. He also wants to reap the financial benefits of employment, at the expense of Mr. Levy, without contributing to the factory.
Themes
Mr. Gonzalez eagerly introduces Ignatius to Miss Trixie, who mutters something about being promised a Thanksgiving turkey. Ignatius asks about the wage, which is $60 a week, and thinks it is meager. Ignatius says that he has received much higher offers elsewhere. Mr. Gonzalez tries to persuade Ignatius to take the job, and eventually Ignatius agrees. That morning, three more employees quit.
Miss Trixie resents the fact that she is not allowed to retire or receive her Thanksgiving turkey for her years of service. Ignatius tries to manipulate Mr. Gonzalez and suggests that it is in Mr. Gonzalez’s best interests to hire him. However, Ignatius is not thinking of how best to help Mr. Gonzalez but only looking out for himself. In fact, it is implied that he drives away three other members of the staff, which will not help Mr. Gonzalez.
Themes
