How Does Toole Use Satire In A Confederacy Of Dunces

As observers and active participants in society, authors experience and are subjected to the follies, vices, and perhaps even sins that are attributes of daily life. By using literary techniques, an author can address, and possibly make fun of these uncomfortable and even serious situations in a casual demeanor: this is known as satire. Author John Kennedy Toole's partially biographical, Pulitzer prize winning novel, A Confederacy of Dunces, is a literary masterpiece that embodies an extreme satirical spirit and one that is fully committed to ridiculing the culture of 1960s America. The novel is truly remarkable in the sense that Toole was able to create such a smooth and colloquial read that is enjoyable on a basic, comical level, yet it contains

Ignatius is an over-educated man-child with essentially no work ethic or sense of purpose for his life. He attended college, where he met another integral character named Myrna, and the proceed to earn his Master's degree. However, it took Ignatius approximately four years to obtain an degree that is commonly earned within two years. According to Mrs. Riley, "Ignatius graduated smart" from college (33). He may be highly intelligent and capable of receiving academic praise, but Ignatius' educational success most certainly did not translate into post-graduate prosperity. His mother states, "I spent all his poor Grammaw Reilly's insurance money to keep him in college for eight years, and since then all he's done is lay around the house watching television"(34). By the fault of his mother's lenience and blind love, Ignatius was allowed to avoid all responsibility after graduation. A degree is society is rendered useless and in a sense, a waste, if the recipient is not willing to apply the knowledge for their own advancement. Additionally, higher education is not synonymous with personal success or even a healthy emotional wellbeing. American society continues to lecture that furthering one's education is a guaranteed way to find lifelong success; this simply is not true. Toole satirizes the concept of the country's youth being carried through an educational program on their parent's

Levy serves a minor role in the story line, his character speaks volume in regard to the connection between wealth and power and overall life happiness as a whole. Mr. Levy serves to satirize the concept that being high up on the social ladder is a guarantee of fulfillment and joy. Having received his father's company through inheritance, Mr. Levy was handed immediate executive power and the wealth associated with the business. While this may seem like the "American Dream," the novel portrays the company as an anxiety inducing burden that he cannot get rid of. The company gives him heart burn, "he associates it with his father" (158). Simply entering the building for even the shortest visit causes Mr. Levy's mood to change. Additionally, this unhappiness and discontent with life radiates into his personal relations at home, inciting conflict with his wife, Mrs. Levy. It appears that Mrs. Levy is more invested into Levy Pants than her husband; she tells him "You know how you've thrown your life away. A whole business down the drain. A chance to go nationwide. Your father's sweat and blood handed to you on a silver platter" (158). Mr. Levy has more wealth, power, and material possession than any of the other characters, yet he also appears to be one of the most discontent. Toole satirizes the cliché saying, "money and power can buy happiness." Mr. Levy's situation proves this statement