A Confederacy of Dunces
Thursday, January 25th, 2007John Kennedy Toole: A Confederacy of Dunces
Great, just great! I read it in Norwegian and absolutely have to re-read it in English. Ignatius J. Reilly is incredible. His absolute dislike for the world around him, and his inability to function in society is incredible. There is something fascinating about this man.
He is apparently well-educated and well-read (having spent ca. 8 years at a university), however all the knowledge that he possesses is used toward criticizing everything and everyone that he encounters. He views himself as elevated above all people, and does not hesitate tell them so, using pompous, yet brilliant language.
There is a strange sort of love story that takes place, and it is one that borderlines the subconscious of Ignatius. He feels hate for Myrna, however she is also the one that he has the closest connection to, and the only person in the book towards whom he actually has feelings. They seem to have a lot in common, and in spite of the aversion they show for one another in their letters, they can’t seem to let each other go.
This book is very good, and although I can’t put my finger on what it is that fascinates me about Ignatius, I can definitely say that he is a unique character. I have never encountered such an individual, neither in life, nor in literature. In my opinion, A Confederacy of Dunces would make an excellent movie.
What starts off slow and only somewhat interesting, quickly develops into a personal and family drama beyond imagination. The family in this book is portrayed as utterly dysfunctional, and unable to cope with their personal differences, as well as overcome their selfishness and closed-mindedness with regard to each other. However, as the plot develops and dives deeper into the lives of the individuals, we are exposed to their traits that have previously been hidden. Strength, courage, honesty, and love emerge, giving depth and hope to this otherwise very disturbing book.