Analyzing a Dunce In the novel A Confederacy of Dunces, author John Kennedy Toole wonderfully depicts New Orleans in the early 1960s and protagonist Ignatius J. Reilly’s comical adventures throughout the city. When his mother (who he still lives with at the age of 30) crashes her car, he now finds that he must get a job to pay off the expenses. Ignatius has two main traits that truly define him: he is incredibly lazy and tremendously selfish. Ignatius J. Reilly is an appallingly lazy human being. He is mortified when his mother informs him that he must get a job.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole tells the story of Ignatius J. Reilly, a thirty-year-old man living with his mother in New Orleans during the 1960s, as well as various other characters somehow involved with Ignatius. Ignatius and his mother face financial troubles after his mother hits a building with her car. To pay for damages, Mrs. Reilly forces Ignatius, who usually spent his days sitting at home, to get a job. As a result of joining the working force, Ignatius faces many problems. Throughout the entire story, Ignatius displays gluttony in the amount of food he eats and arrogance in the way he views society and its people.
John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces is the story of an anti-modern man named Ignatius J. Reilly who lives in New Orleans in the early 1960s. Ignatius is an obese man who has become obsessed with disapproving of pop culture. He often entertains himself by attending modern events, such as going to movie theaters, merely to express his disdain with them. Throughout the story, Ignatius displays an outspoken personality and an unmistakable rude demeanor. In A Confederacy of Dunces, the main character, Ignatius J. Reilly, repeatedly shows that he is not hesitant to spout out his controversial beliefs about the world.
Iago uses rhetorical appeals to gain this new reputation. An example occurs when Iago tells Othello, “Nay, but he prated/ And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms/ Against your/ honor”(1.2.7-9). By telling Othello that Brabantio has been talking negatively about him behind his back, Iago tries to gain Othello’s trust so when he puts his plan into action. Othello won’t question if Iago actually tells the truth or not. Another example is when Iago state, “What, man, there are ways to/ recover the general again” (2.3.259-260).
So when he starts telling him the truth Oedipus gets even more mad and taunts Tiresias about being blind. Then Oedipus accuses Ceron of being the murderer and that he is just trying to become king. If it was not for Oedipus’s temper he would not have killed king Laius and his men. Oedipus’s temper had a great contribution to his downfall and later his blindness. Oedipus’s pride also was a large contribution to his downfall.
It’s her school! “Perhaps you [Father Flynn] are mistaken in your understanding of what concerns me. The boy is in my school and his well being is my responsibility”(32). If Father Flynn has nothing to hide then why keep avoiding the subject and even say “I don’t wish to continue this conversation at all further”(33) when Sister Aloysius simply asked to know what happened in the rectory? As he is about to step out of the office, Sister Aloysius tells him about the alcohol in Donald’s breath.
Dubose’s insults to Atticus, Atticus tells him, “You just hold your head high and be a gentleman.”(Lee 133) This event demonstrates Atticus’s courtesy because even though Ms. Dubose was insulting him and his children, Atticus showed his courteous nature and remained a gentleman. Another situation which shows Atticus being courteous is when he goes to tell Helen Robinson about her husband’s death. When Atticus arrives at her house, he notices a small, female child attempting, unsuccessfully, to climb down the stairs. Being the gentleman that he is, Atticus removed his hat and offered his finger and helped the child down the stairs. This shows Atticus being courteous even in a private situation.
As the father of Jem and Scout, Atticus continuously displays humility, courtesy, and selflessness. To begin, Atticus demonstrates what true humility means. He humbles himself in his speech and never exalts himself in the presence of others. Instead of boasting about himself, Atticus remains silent about his achievements. For instance, after Atticus shoots a sick dog, Miss Maudie says to his children, “Forgot to tell you the other day that besides playing the Jew’s Harp, Atticus Finch was the deadest shot in Maycomb County in his time” (129).
As the battle continues, Cassius notices a group of advancing troops. Giving Titinius, his servant, his horse, he instructs him to ride off and discover whose troops they are. Titinius responds, “I will be here again even with a thought” (Shakespeare V; iii, 19). Although he does not know about anything that is to happen to him, he steadfastly believes in his master and does his will. He is devoted to put others
The suitors all get furious with Odysseus, and Antinous personally humiliates Odysseus with the phrase “filthy drifter”. In addition, it says that Odysseus spoke with “modest words” which shows that he was being humble and not bragging about what he can do. This shows a transformation in Odysseus’s character compared to earlier in the book, where he was prideful and bragged about his accomplishments.