A Confederacy of Dunces as a Criticism of Higher Education

Whether in an effort to become more than improve and to obtain more moneymaking commerces or due to the select for better fosterage in an increasingly technological job market, the United States has seen a rising tr overthrow in the percentage of individuals who choose to attend college and polish school. Not only has the fleck of individuals seeking naughtyer(prenominal) genteelness increase, but criticism of higher direction has increased as come up.Common criticism has included the thinking of colleges and universities world more concerned with financial aspects than with their students, as well as the idea of students utilize higher education non to become more amend individuals, but to increase their chances of earning higher wages after college or fine-tune school. A Confederacy of Dunces satirical focus on education and schooling provides examples of these and other criticisms of higher education.More specifically, the personalitys of the story show the subscriber the meliorate be not always the ones who fare the best in toll of their emotional well- world and their ability to function in fiat. In smell at the characters in the story there seems to be an inverse descent in terms of the summation of education a character has authorized in comparison to that characters ability to function normally in society (to not cause others distress, to contribute physically and mentally, etc. ) For example, Ignatius has the greatest amount of education and proves himself the intimately socially backwards, followed by Myrna, then by Mrs.Levy, an confirming psychologist with no more than community college experience. Also, the reader is shown that the to the highest degree educated characters are to a fault the most satirized and laughable characters in the story. Two obvious characters, the characters of Ignatius Reilly and Myrna Minkoff, deck about of the possible detrimental effects of higher education. Although it is difficult to gabfest on Myrna, evidence is provided throughout the novel that portrays Ignatius as a grants more sociable and pleasant individual before his days at college.For two of these characters education has distorted their view of society in such a way that it makes them miserable to be part of such an vile and debauched society. Ignatius complains throughout the novel about others lack of in regulateigence and their purportedly 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. N from each one character is able to fight back a long lasting relationship with others than themselves.Also, Ignatius has difficulty finding avocation and has even greater difficulty keeping any job which he obtains. Myrna herself would undoubtedly face similar difficulty if she did not receive literal funding from her father. Finally, Myrnas view on sex, one that clashes with the social norm, and her propensity to question this subject almost gets her raped by a university janitor. Another character who is highly involved in academia, professor talcum, helps to illustrate the criticism of college being a business for those who run it and by those who work for it.Professor Talc himself admits that he does not know or teach much at all-that his lectures are vague, that he is only popular because of his humor, and that he is not suffice to teach college level Social Studies. Talcs disinterest in educating his students supports the idea that many an(prenominal) professors view their work only as a define 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. fleck Talc originally believes that the student set up the meeting either because of her interest in his class or because of her interest in him, the literal motive of the s tudent is only to find out the grade of her most recent project. This episode represents the common criticism of higher education only when 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 well(p) grades, obtaining a good job, making a lot of money, etc.In the authors final attempt to satirize, and therefore remark, 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 pleasant or have the greatest intellectual capacity, they do finish the story as the most emotionally, and in some cases financially, persistent characters of the story.Also, although they are not formally educated, these characters are able to function well in everyd ay, practical situations. One such uneducated character who finishes the novel better off than many of the educated characters is Ignatius mother. By the end of the story, Mrs. Reilly is set-apart 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 want 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 go with of friends, dancing, bowling etc. Her simple pleasures illustrate the ideal of the Zen itinerary to affluence-if you do not desire a lot, it takes very little to be happy. In comparing this to higher education, 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 rules of 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 longer 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 somewhat flaky, demonstrates the idea that ignorance is bliss.As a pass on of her lack of intelligence, Darlene expects very little, and her highest goal is only to be a well-paid exotic dancer. After reaching this goal at the close of the novel, Darlenes ebullience ag ain shows that if one does not have a lot, it will not take much to become content. Although also appearing 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 knowledge 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 surgical process 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 trial impression that the business of higher education perpe tuates 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 in the lead 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 waitress down upon and even to dislike the members of society with average or below average intelligence. The author further mocks education by leaving 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.