A Confederacy of Dunces
Author: John Kennedy Toole
Release: 1980
Tagline: A Novel
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
Genre: Fiction, Satire
ISBN-10: 0-8071-0657-7
Main Character(s): Ignatius T. Reilly, Irene Reilly, Miss Trixie, Patrolman Mancuso, Darlene, Jones, Myrna Minkoff
Synopsis: The marvelous, madcap adventures in New Orleans of Ignatius T. Reilly.
Declassified by Agent Palmer: Chaotic, irrational, and brilliant: A Confederacy of Dunces takes you for a ride
Quotes and Lines
“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” – Jonathan Swift – Thoughts on various Subjects, Moral and Diverting
“Mother doesn’t cook,” Ignatius said dogmatically. “She burns.”
“With the breakdown of the Medieval system, the gods of Chaos, Lunacy, and Bad Taste gained ascendancy.” Ignatius was writing in one of his Big Chief tablets.
“A firm rule must be imposed upon our nation before it destroys itself. The United States needs some theology and geometry, some taste and decency. I suspect that we are teetering on the edge of the abyss.” – Ignatius
“I refuse to ‘look up.’ Optimism nauseates me. It is perverse. Since man’s fall, his proper position in the universe has been one of misery.”
Too long have I confined myself in Miltonic isolation and meditation. It is clearly time for me to step boldly into our society, not in the boring, passive manner of the Myrna Minkoff school of social action, but with great style and zest.
A debate between Pragmatism and Morality rages in my brain. Is the glorious end, Peace, worth the awesome means, Degeneracy? Like two figures in the medieval Morality play, Pragmatism and Morality spar in the boxing ring of my brain. I cannot await the outcome of their furious debate: I am too obsessed with Peace.
“Whoa! Gettin your ass gainfully employ ain exactly the easies thing in the worl.”
Once a person was asked to step into this brutal century, anything could happen.