A Confederacy of Dunces as a Criticism of Higher Education

Whether in an effort to become to a greater extent than educated and to suffer more(prenominal)(prenominal) lucrative jobs or due to the need for better direction in an change magnitudely scientific job market, the United States has seen a rising tr hold on in the percentage of individuals who choose to attend college and alum school. non only has the number of individuals seeking higher(prenominal) precept change magnitude, but criticism of higher education has increased as intumesce.Common criticism has included the idea of colleges and universities creation more concerned with m unitytary aspects than with their students, as well as the idea of students using higher education not to become more educated individuals, but to increase their chances of earning higher wages after college or graduate school. A confederation of Dunces satirical focus on education and learning provides examples of these and other criticisms of higher education.More specifically, the characte rs of the story limn the contributor the educated are not al miens the ones who fare the best in terms of their ruttish well- world and their ability to function in society. In looking at the characters in the novel in that location seems to be an inverse relationship in terms of the amount of education a character has original in comparison to that characters ability to function normally in society (to not cause others distress, to top physically and mentally, etc. ) For example, Ignatius has the greatest amount of education and produces himself the more or less socially backwards, followed by Myrna, then by Mrs.Levy, an overconfident psychologist with no more than community college experience. Also, the reader is shown that the to the highest degree educated characters are also the approximately satirized and laughable characters in the story. Two obvious characters, the characters of Ignatius Reilly and Myrna Minkoff, illustrate some of the possible detrimental effects of higher education. Although it is difficult to comment on Myrna, evidence is provided through come on the novel that portrays Ignatius as a much more sociable and pleasant individual before his days at college.For both of these characters education has distorted their figure of society in such a way that it makes them miserable to be part of such an nefarious and debauched society. Ignatius complains throughout the novel about others lack of intelligence and their supposedly distorted view of society. Not only has Ignatius and Myrnas view of society been affected by higher education, but their ability to function socially in society has been affected as well. Neither character is able to maintain a capacious lasting relationship with others than themselves.Also, Ignatius has difficulty finding employment and has even greater difficulty keeping every job which he obtains. Myrna herself would undoubtedly face similar difficulty if she did not receive substantial accompaniment fr om her father. Finally, Myrnas view on sex, one that clashes with the social norm, and her propensity to discuss this subject almost gets her raped by a university janitor. Another character who is highly involved in academia, Professor powder, helps to illustrate the criticism of college being a business for those who run it and by those who make up for it.Professor powder himself admits that he does not have it away or teach much at all-that his lectures are vague, that he is only popular because of his humor, and that he is not qualified to teach college level Social Studies. Talcs disinterest in educating his students supports the idea that some(prenominal) professors view their work only as a apprehend job with substantial benefits. Another example of Professor Talc illustrating criticism of higher education comes in the episode of his meeting with a female student. time Talc originally believes that the student readiness up the meeting either because of her interest in his class or because of her interest in him, the actual motive of the student is only to find out the grade of her most recent project. This episode represents the ordinary criticism of higher education simply providing a means to an end. While the primary goal of a college education was at one time to become a more educated individual, this goal has shifted to receiving good grades, obtaining a good job, making a lot of money, etc.In the authors final attempt to satirize, and therefore criticize, higher education, Professor Talc, the novels symbol of higher education itself, ends the story being mocked and ridiculed by both teachers and students. In comparing the less-educated characters of the story, the reader is shown that although these characters may not be the most materially well-off or have the greatest intellectual capacity, they do finish the story as the most emotionally, and in some cases financially, stable characters of the story.Also, although they are not formally educated, these characters are able to function well in everyday, practical situations. One such ill-informed character who finishes the novel better off than legion(predicate) of the educated characters is Ignatius mother. By the end of the story, Mrs. Reilly is free of Ignatius, who oppresses her social interests and forces her to cook and clean, and has a chance at marrying Claude Robichaux, a well-off and apparently sympathetic man. Mrs. Reilly has little education and therefore seems to expect and longing little. Unlike those who desire a good job and a good income simply because they attended college, Mrs.Reilly is satisfied by more simple pleasures the company of friends, dancing, bowling etc. Her simple pleasures illustrate the ideal of the Zen road to affluence-if you do not desire a lot, it takes very little to be happy. In comparing this to higher education, over again many of those individuals who attend college and/or graduate school do expect and desire more a more lucrative job, more socially affluent friends, a wealthier, more attractive spouse. Higher education may also perpetuate the need to be competitive-the need to work increasingly hard in order to get ahead.Evidence of this idea can be found in the fact that an increasing percentage of the population attend college and/or graduate school than in years past. No yearner is a high school education sufficient to secure a well-paying job. Both Darlene and Jones also prove to be less educated characters who end the story in better emotional and financial situations than many of those characters who have received some type of higher education. Both Darlene and Jones finish the story with better, more secure employment as well as newfound happiness. Darlene, who is portrayed in the novel as or so flaky, demonstrates the idea that ignorance is bliss.As a return of her lack of intelligence, Darlene expects very little, and her highest goal is only to be a well-paid exotic dancer. After reach ing this goal at the close of the novel, Darlenes exuberance again shows that if one does not have a lot, it will not take much to become content. Although also visual aspect uneducated, Jones proves to have a great deal of common sense that allows him to function in society. In this way Jones provides the reader with evidence that association gained through higher education is not the only type of knowledge one needs in order to be successful and achieve goals.In comparing Ignatius with Jones the reader notices this difference between book smarts and street smarts and their use in functioning in society. Using his common sense, an intelligence that Ignatius clearly lacks, Jones can tell when whites are scared of him, and is also able to figure out Lana Lees scam, using it to maintain job security and eventually to get a more desirable job. In an apparent attempt to both satirize and criticize higher education, John Kennedy Toole creates characters in A confederacy of Dunces who offer proof that the business of higher education perpetuates competition and the desire to achieve more than others.This increased competition in turn causes both stress and an increased likelihood of falling short of set goals, both eventually leading to unhappiness. Also, as seen in the character Ignatius, the intelligence gained as a result of college or graduate school may cause the educated to look down upon and even to hate the members of society with average or below average intelligence. The author further mocks education by go away each character in a particular position at the end of the novel. While the uneducated characters tend to end up better off, the educated characters generally prove unhappy by the end of the story.