Indescribable

The style and culture of New Orleans is not only found in its food, people, and history, but also in the fictional characters it has fostered. Ignatius, the main character in the Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole and Binx, the main character in The Moviegoer, by Walker Percy are two men native to the Crescent City. Toole and Percy are able to captivate different aspects of New Orleans through following the lives of their characters. While Binx and Ignatius both represent their native city through the things that they say and do, they prove to be very different from one another. Ignatius is described on the first page of The Confederacy of Dunces as a large man with a green hunting cap on the top of his “fleshy balloon head”, with uncut hair, full, pursed lips, and a black bushy mustache. He is a stubborn, unemployed, educated man who is dependent on his crazy mother. Ignatius’s views on society reflect his somewhat pious and superior attitude. He looks down upon popular culture and enjoys a little disagreement once and a while. His lazy tendencies, strong views, and unique nature make him a very interesting character. On the other hand, Binx is quite different from Ignatius. Binx is very independent and has been since his childhood as an orphan. He is an educated stockbroker whose dating habits are correlated to the rapid turn over of his secretarial staff. The reader follows Binx through his quest for purpose and meaning in life. Binx compensates his quest for self-fulfillment through frequent trips to the movie theater.

            In my opinion, New Orleans is most strongly portrayed through Percy’s character. Similar to Binx, New Orleans cannot be easily defined. New Orleans is an eclectic city with many different sides to it and is truly unlike anything else. It seems nearly impossible to describe New Orleans in one word, just like Binx finds the task of self-realization and defining his personality endless. Binx’s way of life also reflects the nature of New Orleans. He works hard in his office job during the day yet enjoys a good time after hours. It seems that New Orleans is all about this work hard, play hard mentality.