CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES by John Kennedy Toole
Book Notes by Bill Norris 4/17/2010
Ignatius J. Reilly, with his errant pyloric valve, is seen standing under the clock in front of D. H. Holmes Department store on Canal Street in downtown New Orleans. Today, there is a bronze stature of him standing right there. His mother agreed to meet him there, but meanwhile she is pressing her maternal breasts against a glass case of macaroons inside the store. Here begins a story of dysfunctional lunacy!
Patrolman Angelo Mancuso investigates Ignatius standing suspeciously under the clock. A confrontation erupts. Mr. Claude Robichaux, a by stander, is arrested while Irene Reilly and her son slip around the corner to Bourbon Street’s Night of Joy bar for a beer. Irene wrecks her car into a house getting out of a parking place on St. Ann Street. The damage is $1,000, meaning Ignatius has got to go to work! Hence, Levy Pants… Mr. Gonzales, Mgr, Trixie, bookeeper, plus factory workers. Mr. Gus Levy is an avid golfer and owner of the business.. Scenes describe events at the Reilly house on Constantinople Street uptown. Ignatius is soon leader of a protest at Levy Pants, resulting in a search for a new job! He happens into Paradise Vendors on Poydras St., eats some of their products, hiring on to sell the hot dogs as a street vendor.
Mrs. Levy invites Irene to visit her home in Bay St. Louis. There she meets Mr. Claude Robichaux. Meanwhile Ignatius undertakes to cleanse Pirates Alley of bogus artists that are presenting their artwork to the public. A scene similar to Jesus cleansing the Temple with righteous indignation, erupts with Ignatius as the central arbitor of artistic excellance and mediocrity!.
A letter written by Ignatius while at Levy Pants brings the threat of a suit against the company. He addresses a political rally ending up at the Night of Joy on Bourbon St. on his butt at the curb. To jail, then to home he goes. Mr. Levy accuses Ignatius of writing the libelous letter, Ignatius implicates MissTrixie, who confesses. Mr. Levy rejoices, planning to change Levy Pants to Levy Shorts, hire a new worker, retire Trixie and live happily ever after.. Irene threatens Ignatius with confinement at Charity Hospital’s psychiatric ward!.
Mryna, Ignatius’ sweetheart, a resident of New York City and a full time protester, believes all Ignatius needs is sex! She arrives from the City to rescue her love. They slip off to New York in her Renault, just before the Charity ward personel arrive to take the beloved Ignatius, J. Reilly to the institution.
THE END
P.S. – John Kennedy Toole wrote this hilarious story. He failed to get this his first novel published, resulting in him taking his own life. His mother persisted in efforts and with the help of author Walker Percy, brought it to the attention of LSU Press. It was published in 1980, becoming an overnight sensation for readers who are familiar with the cultural uniqueness of the city.
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