A Confederacy of Dunces | Themes & Symbolism

A Confederacy of Dunces Significant Topics

Race

A Confederacy of Dunces is peopled largely by white Cajuns, but racial matters arise in two contexts. First, Jones is hired to sweep floors in the Night of Joy bar for $20 a week, and spends much of his time complaining that this sub-minimum wage is a continuation of slavery. Jones remains there only out of fear that the police will jail him if he once again falls to being an unemployed black vagrant, and his employer systematically exploits this fear. Without becoming a stereotypical black, Jones confronts and voices the stereotypes in stark, profane racial terms. Jones would like to find a better job and live the American dream, but he feels blacks are destined from birth to menial tasks and resulting poverty.

The second area is Ignatius' attempt to lead a "Crusade for Moorish Dignity" in the Levy Pants factory, whose work force is predominantly black. In the...
(read more)