September / Comic Novel Reading: A Confederacy of Dunces

[Scheherazade]

I am not sure if Iggy really dislikes all those things he keeps complaining about. I think he actually likes watching all those movies and TV programmes but, like many "intellectuals" out there, he just cannot bring himself to admit that he actually enjoys what "common" people enjoy...

Regarding complaining... I think they all suffer from the ailment of the modern society. Everyone is so willing to be a victim; they are mistreated; their lives are not fair; it is always someone else's fault and they are the unluckiest, poorest creatures ever breathed on this earth... All this could have been acceptable if they were willing to take a step to turn things around for themselves.

Been an interesting, fun reading.

[Dark Muse]

I wonder, what do you think Toole is trying to suggest by sitting this cast of characters who all more or less victimize themselves, and struggle through their rather petty complaints of which they subject themselves to, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement?

Throughout the story there are several allusions made to the civil rights movement and in a way it is almost used as a sort of mockery of the disengagement complaints of the characters within the story, who take themselves more seriously than they really should.

And Myrna is made as some sort of parody of a young feminist liberal, in casting her in a very stereotypical sort of way.

[caspian]

I must admit that he kinda pisses me off most of the time... And OMG, just picturing him sitting in his room with his night shirt and his donuts or whatever he's eating, his pencil in his ear.. it just grosses me out sooo much... And yet at times I find him funny and almost likeable.... I don't know it's kind of confusing....

I feel same way about Ignatius.. There was a moment I almost quit reading -when his religious ecstasy took a sudden turn (I part of Chapter II). It took me whole day to get over the disgust. Now I'm a little careful - I avoid reading parts with Ig. before or after eating.
he's one big PARASITE -he's never wrong-and has always ready answer to every blame. I think I know him well now. I knew that he had no money to pay for hot dogs, and he would not sell any of them. Actually I'm surprised that he finally made $4. I thought he would repeat first day all the time while having that job. Another surprising side of him- Looks like he loves animals. Isn't that interesting?

This book is going to be one of my favorites. So much respect and admiration for the writer! Big, big Thanks -the one who nominated it and the ones who voted for it.

I think you're on to something here, not merely with the specific character of Ignatius, but as an aspect of the American collective psyche: that we don't fully feel alive until we're "riled up." Nothing gets our attention as much as making our boil boil.

Hence, the appeal(?) for so-called "reality" shows on television in which viewers tune in just to watch people make fools of themselves over contestants whom "they love to hate." Schadenfreude may be America's guilty pleasure. And such active outrage is precisely what the Media feeds off: all the coverage about notorious criminals, scandals, celebrities behaving badly. (If not that, then it's fear-mongering: unemployment, the health care system and ways to fix it, swine flu, etc.) Everytime I turn on the idiot box it's as if it's asking me: "Aren't you mad?" or "Are we scared yet?"

Good point

[Scheherazade]

I wonder, what do you think Toole is trying to suggest by sitting this cast of characters who all more or less victimize themselves, and struggle through their rather petty complaints of which they subject themselves to, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement?

Throughout the story there are several allusions made to the civil rights movement and in a way it is almost used as a sort of mockery of the disengagement complaints of the characters within the story, who take themselves more seriously than they really should.

I don't think Toole is trying to mock the Civil Rights movements but how they were used as a tool or an excuse by certain types/groups of people to advance their own selfish agendas (as in the case of Iggy at the factory or with the gay clique). Almost all of the characters in the book are so self-obsessed that they are unable to see beyond their own trivial, selfish needs. They, willingly or unwillingly, ignore what is really important. The Police, the academic, the so-called intellectual, rich, poor... There are examples from all walks of life.

I don't think Toole is saying everyone is like that but he is just aiming to make fun of those who are, I believe.

Having said that, when you look around, you see that everyone is a victim! People are very unwilling to take responsibilty of their own fate and situation. Everyone wants to be happy but they want other people/things to make them happy. Everyone is unhappy because someone else makes them so or because they don't have this or that. (Check out the "Happiness" thread in our Forum )

And Myrna is made as some sort of parody of a young feminist liberal, in casting her in a very stereotypical sort of way.

Myrna is probably the parody of the liberal feminist of the times the book was written. Her interest and speech topic! Like there is nothing else to be taken care of...

Another surprising side of him- Looks like he loves animals. Isn't that interesting?

Are you refering to the dog here? If so, I am not sure I like the fact that he "loves" animals!

OK, here is a question. At the end of the book, Iggy's interest in Myrna's hair... I find it a little icky because I cannot help thinking there is connection with the long hair and the dog. Does anyone get the same feeling?

Big, big Thanks -the one who nominated it and the ones who voted for it.

I think it was Bouquin who nominated it

[Dark Muse]

Are you refering to the dog here? If so, I am not sure I like the fact that he "loves" animals! .

Hehe, I think it was a reference to the stray cat, which he wanted to try and take home, and then after he got reported for touching the cat while working, he in a way tried to defend the cats honor as it were.

At first his seeming love for animals does seem to be a bit of a curiosity considering how self-absorbed he is, and how it seems he takes offence at just about everything else.

But in social outcasts, and those that are repelled by human companionship it is common to find a bound with animals. For one thing because animals generally lack most of the annoying human traits that drives people out of human society, and because of their pure, unconditional non-judgmental loyalty and love.

In Iggy's case, animals won't contradict him, or harass him about staying in his room, or about what he is doing, and criticize his writing, and watching TV or judge him for his eating and how long he stays in the bath...etc.... He could have complete authority over an animal.

[Scheherazade]

I thought Iggy's interest in the cat was like his interest in trumpet and lute... Obvious that he won't carry on... Just another temporary whim... another sign of his immaturity.

[Dark Muse]

I have to say, I was quite surprised with Iggy actually sticking behind the hot dog vendor job and wondered what drove him to do it. While his integrity as a vendor leaves much to be desired being that he eats more hot dogs than he sells, it still struck me that he presciently showed up for the gig everyday as it seems to be the last thing something like Iggy would indeed commit himself to doing.

Is it some boyish fear of his mother's complaining, and the fact that he could not bare the thought of having to go out job hunting even more which caused him to stick with the vending job?

Or underneath all of his complaints is there something within him that actually enjoys the work? Even in perhaps some perverse sort of way? The fact that it makes him feel like a martyr of sorts.

[Sancho]

I gotta tell ya, I read this book shortly after it was published, when I was quite young, and I loved it back then. Now, I’m finding it a little too campy. I’m not even sure I’ll finish it, which is a shame because I was looking forward to rereading it.

[lugdunum]

I'm dragging behind... I've just finished reading the first day of Ignatius as a hot dog vendor... The more I read the more he p* me off.... Oh and this thing with his valve is becoming more and more of an obsession don't you think???... I wish he'd get over that already... but then again I guess this is exactly what this character is about... self centered and self obsessed.

I miss Ms. Trixie... Does she come back in the story?... *fingers crossed*

[Dark Muse]

Yes, she does re-enter the story after Iggy starts working as a vendor

[Scheherazade]

"Gloria!"

[Dark Muse]

Hehe

I love Santa, she cracks me

[Scheherazade]

I was expecting her to elope with the old guy, to be honest. Surprisingly, she turned out to be genuine in her match-making efforts.

(If this were an Austen book, she would have though )

[Dark Muse]

I never really thought that, I always felt that her match-making efforts were genuine. In a way she is one of the most likable characters in the book, because she seems to be truly the only one who actually does do things for herself, and doesn't just sit around and complain about her problems.

Though I still am quite fascinated by Jones and his clouds of smoke.

[Sancho]

I like his use of the reflexive in the dialog, which is sort of a Cajun-ism you hear sometimes from natives of New Orleans. “Myself, I go down der to de Café Du Monde for dem beignets an some a dat cafe au lait.” Something like that. It’s a little more widespread over in Lafayette.
Anyway, what do you guys think of his phonetic spelling inside the quotation marks. Could he have developed Jones without it? I think modern African-Americans readers may choke on the cartoonish portrayal of Jones.