A Confederacy of Dunces Characters

Ignatius J. Reilly is the son of Irene Reilly and Mr. Reilly. He is a 30-year-old self-styled philosopher and social commentator. Ignatius is well-educated, specializing in the medieval period during his university studies, an… read analysis of Ignatius J. Reilly

Irene Reilly is the mother of Ignatius J. Reilly and the widow of Mr. Reilly. Irene is a well-meaning but easily flustered and somewhat shallow woman. She drinks too much and has an obsessive… read analysis of Irene Reilly

Myrna Minkoff is a political activist from New York and Ignatius’s ex-girlfriend. Ignatius met Myrna at university, and although the pair immediately clashed and disliked each other, they formed “an affair (platonic) of sorts”… read analysis of Myrna Minkoff

Patrolman Mancuso is a hapless and unsuccessful member of the New Orleans police force and an undercover agent. He is the nephew of Santa Battaglia and becomes friends with Ignatius’s mother, Irene, throughout… read analysis of Patrolman Mancuso

Burma Jones is a black man who lives in New Orleans and who takes a job at the strip club, the Night of Joy, to avoid being arrested on vagrancy charges. Jones is confident… read analysis of Burma Jones

Darlene is a bar girl in the Night of Joy strip club owned by Lana Lee. Darlene is hired on commission by Lana to sell as many drinks as she can to customers in… read analysis of Darlene

Mr. Levy is the owner of a textile factory called Levy Pants, which was founded by his father and which he inherited. He is married to Mrs. Levy and has two daughters, Susan and Sandra… read analysis of Mr. Levy

Mrs. Levy is the wife of Mr. Levy and the mother of Susan and Sandra. Mrs. Levy mercilessly persecutes her husband, who she claims has ruined her life. She believes Mr. Levy would like… read analysis of Mrs. Levy

Miss Trixie is an elderly employee at Levy Pants factory, which is owned by Mr. Levy. Miss Trixie is senile and is not a very effective employee. She frequently falls asleep at work and… read analysis of Miss Trixie

George is an adolescent boy who helps Lana Lee distribute pornography at his school. George is surly and confrontational but is afraid of the police and believes that Patrolman Mancuso suspects him of something when… read analysis of George

Dorian Greene is a young, gay man whom Ignatius and Irene meet in the Night of Joy bar, and whom Ignatius encounters again while he is working as a hot dog vendor in the French… read analysis of Dorian Greene

Santa Battaglia is a vivacious older woman and the aunt of Patrolman Mancuso. She befriends Irene and Claude Robichaux and convinces them to start a romantic relationship. Santa is formidable and overbearing. She bosses… read analysis of Santa Battaglia

Claude Robichaux is a kindly old man who falls in love with Irene after he sees her defend her son, Ignatius, outside a department store when Patrolman Mancuso tries to arrest Ignatius. Rather than… read analysis of Claude Robichaux

Mr. Clyde runs Paradise Vendors, a hot dog cart business, from his garage in New Orleans. Mr. Clyde hires Ignatius when Ignatius stops by to purchase a hot dog. Mr. Clyde is a good-hearted but… read analysis of Mr. Clyde

Mr. Gonzalez is an employee of Mr. Levy’s at Levy Pants and runs the office which is attached to the factory. Mr. Gonzalez is also Miss Trixie’s boss and temporarily employs Ignatius… read analysis of Mr. Gonzalez

Mr. Zalatimo is hired by Mr. Gonzalez to replace Ignatius at Levy Pants. Mr. Gonzalez does not think Mr. Zalatimo is a particularly reliable employee and, when Mr. Levy and Mrs. Levy come to visit… read analysis of Mr. Zalatimo

Gloria is an employee at Levy Pants until Ignatius lies about her to get her fired. It is insinuated that Ignatius dislikes Gloria because she is an attractive and efficient woman who helps the office… read analysis of Gloria

Dr. Talc is a professor at the university which Ignatius attended. Dr. Talc claims to be a specialist in English History, but is, in fact, a fraud and does not know his subject well. It… read analysis of Dr. Talc

Betty is an aggressive gay woman who has several run-ins with Patrolman Mancuso and whom Ignatius meets briefly at Dorian Greene’s party. Betty and her two friends, Frieda and Liz, live above Dorian’s… read analysis of Betty