Familial ties add an interesting dimension to even most mundane novels. There are many literary options. Family bonds can offer complex and simple characters, as well a way to appease and anger. Since the dawning of literature, the mind has been inundated by the complex interactions between mother/son. John Kennedy Toole’s novel A Confederacy of Dunces explores the unique relationship between mother-son in a groundbreaking way. Irene Reilly and Ignatius Reilly, along with their attitudes and activities, set the tone for the novel’s events and determine its direction. Irene and Ignatius both are naturally insecure, and they work together to improve their debilitating traits. Irene makes a better life for herself, Ignatius is driven by negativity. Irene strives to be a social butterfly, achieving dominance and high fashion while her son focuses on pompousness. The novel’s conclusion is marked by tension and polarization.
Irene Reilly’s complex personality is rooted in her unadulterated meekness. She is unmotivated, discouraged, and idle. Irene has been further depressed by her relationship with her son, who preys upon the weak. Ignatius’s snide criticisms are heard by Irene, but she responds with silence and annoyance. Clueless in regards to proper postnatal childcare, Irene often attempts to stymie her son’s seemingly endless arsenal of affronts with pleasantries:Ignatius, I’m gonna have to go by the Homestead tomorrow. Mother, those usurers will not be dealt with. Ignatius speaking Ignatius. They can put me behind bars. Oh well. I will have to go back to my living room if you want to put on one of your hilarious scenes. I do believe that I will. (Toole 42)
Irene Reilly chooses humiliation to dignity. She does this probably because she is afraid that her son will become irrational and cause her harm. Irene whimpers, releasing her uncontrollable stress through a disproportionate amount of stress, instead of discipline and preventive measures. I wonder if Ignatius would mind if they sent me to jail. He’s got an ice heart, that boy.” (Toole 41). Irene’s rhetoric portrays inaction. Even a superficial look at the novel’s opening chapters can reveal her default dolefulness or her self-destructive acceptance. Irene spends the entire novel regaining her powerless personality after realizing that she is pitifully weak.
Ignatius is a man of intense insecurity. His façade of control and abuse soon begins to flail outside his mother’s house. His true personality is immediately revealed when he is confronted with unfamiliarity. He is so insecure and powerless that he will allow strangers to dictate all of his actions. Ignatius is clearly unable to hide his desire for comfort and safety in a crowd of proletarian dancers. Ignatius recognizes his errors and attempts to make himself at home in a group of proletarians.
I…turned off my music control switch. This caused a loud and defiantly booing protest from the collective worker…So I turned off the music and smiled wide and waved amiably to show my lack of judgment and gain the workers’ trust. (Toole 21)
Ignatius wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice his own desires for foreign workers if his homebound mentality of supremacy extended to other environments. Ignatius knows that he is not able to intimidate others and is concerned about the consequences. Instead of impatience with high-volume vocaltics and impatience he displays only friendly gestures. Ignatius-clearly scared of revealing his true disposition or becoming the target of mockery-tirelessly conforms to blue-collar society when under pressure. I laughed to show that I shared their high spirits.” (Toole 21). Ignatius’s insecurity is exemplified by his inability and desire to “further pace the workers” (Toole 21,). He is prone to weakness and complicity in public and feels obliged to vent his frustrations in private.
Irene Reilly attempts a solution to her insecure nature. She tries to make herself better. Irene begins this plan with bold efforts to be more attractive. She swaps out her typical, mundane and stereotypically motherly outfits for modern, chic clothes. Irene simultaneously tries to find style and desperation in her poorly matched outfit. “…she added color to it by attaching a wilter Poinsettia to her top” (Toole 112). She explores more about makeup and the use of various stimulants. Irene is particularly interested in the subject of facial make-up. Irene’s maroon mother’s hair was pulled high up on her forehead. Her cheekbones had been sprayed with rouge. “One puff of powder had whitened Mrs. Reilly’s faces” (Toole 16). Irene is proud her new found poshness, even though many feel she has lost her awareness for the superficiality of fashion. Irene is trying to make her appearance more credible and to boost her confidence by transforming from functionally beautiful to fabulous. She acknowledges that her lackluster authority is due in part to her low self-confidence and sedated moods. Regaining her personal status and social presence will require a change in her confidence. Recognizing that first impressions can often create long-lasting relationships, she wisely chooses to lift her spirits through superficial improvement.
Irene Reilly is determined to help Irene get over the depression and keep her sane. Irene is a widower, who lives with her abusive son. She has been known as a lonely and weak person. Irene, who is homebound due to her disability, needs to find balance in her social and personal lives. Irene’s sorrow can be cured by laughter, joy, and companionship. Irene is acutely aware of this fact and works hard to make a better connection with her friends. Ignatius notices his mother having so many friends, and quickly responds to it with his typical cynical and demeaning rhetoric.
My mother is currently a member of an undesirable group that tries to make her an athlete. These are depraved men who bowl their way to oblivion. Sometimes I find it difficult to continue my business career, especially when I am distracted at home. (Toole 101)
Ignatius, possibly jealous at his mother’s growing socialization levels, constantly mocks his mom’s social efforts – but to no avail. Irene perseveres in bringing her out into the open as the novel progresses. Despite her stoic demeanor, Irene is able to bring companionship into her wanderings. Irene has a new look, a different daily routine, and a new attitude towards strangers. Irene has a tendency to trust her friends more, especially in regard Ignatius’s cruel behavior. Irene’s embrace social buoyancy saves her, contrary to Ignatius’s defeatism.
Irene takes a more aggressive approach towards her son Ignatius to combat her lifeless and waning health. Irene slowly replaces Ignatius’s acquiescence in favor of a newfound voice, one that is strong, resilient, independent. Irene begins to counter Ignatius’s demoralization. She also becomes more open-minded about her son’s often reprehensible acts. Irene finally does the unthinkable and assumes total control over her son’s destiny. It is now. He’s my son, but we need to treat him for his own benefit… We have got to declare him temporarily insane” Toole 38. Irene’s decision by contacting the Charity Hospital is the culmination her incremental empowerment. She is no longer Ignatius’ pawn and does not bow to his every request. Irene reverses the status-quo her insecurity created. She started the novel being the dominant entity, and finishes it as the chief dominator. She is able to subordinate the incumbent dictator.
Ignatius acts in the same way as his mother. While Ignatius attempts to curb his insecurity, he is also aware of his unassertiveness. Ignatius’s policy, however, is flagrantly offensive. Ignatius uses arrogance to hide his insecurity. Ignatius believes he is better than all the rest, and that he is smarter than the working class. Ignatius is convinced that he’s too powerful to join the culture. He refuses the headgear of frankfurter distributors. That cap is unacceptable. Toole 158. Death before dishonor or disease. Ignatius tries to make a good impression in society by constantly referring to his unparalleled intelligence and physical ability. Ignatius, during a conversation with Myrna, boasts of his ability to overwhelm others. Ignatius extols his unique and complex personality, when it is actually completely primitive. He uses pompous rhetoric to escape his insecurity. (Fletcher)
Ignatius tries to overcome his weakness by treating his mother badly. Ignatius is a mid-century Cajun conservative who cannot manage assertiveness while maintaining his sanity. Ignatius cannot combat public humiliation and so he turns his back on his mother’s desire to exercise stereotypical masculinity. Irene must deal with the consequences of her son’s weakness. Ignatius is rarely able to have a conversation with Irene that isn’t marred by chaos and critique. He refuses to kiss his mother goodbye, despite her desperate pleas.
Babe, open your door and give me a kiss goodbye. Mother, I’m very busy right now. Ignatius, don’t be so busy. Open up. Get out with your friends. (Toole 115)
Ignatius’s response to Irene is a constant stream of childish insults. Ignatius doesn’t embrace his mother, whose emotional endurance is almost unbreakable. Instead, he insults her appearance.
Ignatius (Reilly) overcomes his insecurity by becoming a glutton. Ignatius is without family love or affection. Ignatius lives a life devoid of sexual indulgence and consistent romance. Ignatius is not able to work and has no self-sufficiency. Ignatius consumes enormous amounts of unhealthy foods to compensate. Ignatius relies on food to ease stress and provide him with a sense purpose. Ignatius’s addiction to gluttony leads him to a short-term fixation on food, but it leaves him increasingly dependent on the feeling of unease and depression he seeks to alleviate. He becomes obsessed over the production patterns and activation of his intestinal lebyrinth. He believes that his mother’s empowering state disturbs his gizzards. “…the sight his mother wearing full-dressed always slightly appalled him valve.” (Toole, 116). Ignatius’ physical flabbiness becomes his strength and he becomes less attractive with each passing day. Ignatius realizes that overeating can have adverse effects on his health and cause him to feel worse. He is the epitome of the pathetic.
Irene, Ignatius and Reilly are a dysfunctional pair of dynamism. Their conversation is filled with scuffles, maternal suppression, and scuffles. Irene is deceptively identical to Ignatius. They also have similar genetics. Both halves of this family are affected by fundamental weaknesses and self-consciousness that can lead to disabling behavior. Both characters are aware of their weaknesses and take steps to improve their ability for functioning amongst emotionally stable people. Although Ignatius is motivated by the same goals as Irene, their individual resurrection plans are very different. Irene’s path to recovery is focused upon self-improvement. She socializes and beautifies herself, and she becomes less tolerant towards abuse. Ignatius’s journey to recovery is focused on his arrogance and obnoxious nature. He leaves the novel in a lonely, frustrated state. The rational reader will see that Irene’s attempt to improve herself is much more successful than her son’s. The patient, calm and compassionate are able and willing to overcome their weak genetics.
