Conferderacy of Dunces - Ignatius Reilly: The Catalyst of Deliberate Life

In the words of a Volkswagon advertisement “In life there are passengers and drivers ... drivers wanted.” Henry David Thoreau was a driver. While many people take a back seat, Thoreau took the figurative wheel. While many people ask questions in life, he was one of the very few who actually answers. Opening Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” is a mission statement for Thoreau, to live life deliberately. Simply defined, to live life to the fullest. Many of the characters of John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces begin the story with lives that are not deliberate. However, through Ignatius Reilly, the story’s main character, many of them fulfill Thoreau’s statement, and change, living their lives deliberately by the conclusion of the story. The destiny of Ignatius Reilly directly or indirectly affected every other character’s destiny. Mrs. Reilly’s new life, Mancuso’s transition to a good cop, Myrna’s self worth, and Mr. Levy’s new motivation are all d...