The Rebirth of Ignatius in the Confederation of Fools"You have learned everything, Ignatius, except how to be a human being" (375). Chained to a dominant character so vast and yet so embryonic as to be not only the protagonist but, in many ways, also its antagonist, The Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole, has been called "a broad satirical vision of the modern world" (Holditch "Introduction" The Neon Bible xi). Since this short definition fails to explain that the vision presented is primarily that of the snail character of Ignatius Jacques Reilly, it also fails to take into account the fact that vision from the womb is, necessarily, somewhat limited. Although Ignatius is thirty years old and has a master's degree, he is so emotionally unprepared for life that he hides in the safety and sanctuary of his womb-like bedroom, anxiously scans the world around him and condemns everything he sees . Viewed from this perspective, the world actually appears to be a scary place. Having lost faith in modern religion at a young age, Ignatius claims to embrace a medieval worldview in which fate rather than free will is in charge. Like Oedipus, Ignatius attempts to evade his destiny, but instead of trying to escape from it, and then, colliding with it as Oedipus did, Ignatius attempts to hide from his destiny by rejecting life itself. Fearing both life and death, Ignatius lives in a Limbo of his own devising. In his writings, Ignatius declares: "'I have always been forced to exist on the margins of society, relegated to the Limbo reserved for those who know reality when they see it'" (30). Of course, in rejecting one's ability to actively participate in determining the outcome of events in... middle of paper... there is a leap forward, a massive jolt of terror-inspired impulses. Ignazio now arrives at a moment where his life is charged with this powerful psychological and physiological impulse. Despite the fear that drives him, there is finally hope for Ignazio. Wandering fearfully in the world, he can now learn to accept his common fate with the rest of humanity: his own humanity and his inherent vulnerability in a world over which he has no control. In her frustration and resignation, Ignatius' little mother, an unusual Earth Mother at best, once sadly and plaintively says to her son, "You have learned everything, Ignatius, except how to be a human being" (375). Herein lies a lesson for all of us. Works Cited Holditch, W. Kenneth. The neon Bible. Grove Press: New York, 1989. Toole, John Kennedy. A confederation of dunces. Grove Weidenfeld: New York, 1980.