The American society is world renowned as one of democracy. It is a nation - state where all people are theoretically created equal and sustains the belief in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is a society that believes in the goodness of their constitution and the power that their nation has in world politics. In spite of this generally optimistic view, natural estrangement exists - by class, gender roles, and race. There is a constant struggle for the American Dream. This can be explained by taking an outside glance at their society. This outside scrutiny is best exemplified by Ignatius J. Reilly in John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces.

Politics is the recognition and negotiation of differences by public authority and private association in the creation of goods and values. The theories of Thomas Hobbes, Aristotle, and Plato are great influences in this and are evident when looking at Ignatius and his relationship with society. Ignatius' society, New Orleans, rejects him. He is a disruption to the order of society; he is estranged from it, and is constantly at odds with it. Tinder's statement synopsizes this well when h

In conclusion it is evident that Ignatius J. Reilly was a character ill fitted to the society of his upbringing. He was an intellectual genius who had valid ideas of society, but was so estranged from it all that no one understood him. Essentially, society was demanding that Ignatius conform to being a person with a career of some sort and a normal life, as they perceived it. Ignatius managed to disrupt many institutions in his society including his old university, Levy Pants, and The Night of Joy by his outrageous ideas and acts. As Ignatius was only one man with these ideas, that is why he failed. His genius was not realised. Society cannot be blamed entirely though, as his actions themselves prevented his success. Ignatius displayed little respect for fellow human beings and was incredibly self - centred. Having an individual such as Ignatius J. Reilly as head of state would spell greatness in view of individuals being happy as long as they would conform to his values and beliefs.

Ignatius was an outcast, he was comfortable with himself, but society would not accept him. In all that he did, whether it was his excessive belching or his flatulency, he set himself apart from everyone else. He would not conform to their ideals. Even in speaking about psychiatric patients he noted that,

e says "that while not every situation of estrangement produces political problems, all political problems are rooted in situations of estrangement." (Tinder, 1995, page 23) Therefore political problems arise from the struggle between Ignatius and society. His political opinions are developed from the difficulties he faces every day.

There would thence be recognition and negotiation of differences and goods and values would be created. For Ignatius, having people behind him would have helped him succeed if they would have understood his ideas. Ignatius saw inequality everywhere, but such that one should be happy with his lot in life as Plato contrived. Ignatius' views were not justified by his radical actions and so the political system of New Orleans did not work for him. Leaving for New York with Myrna Minkoff was the only feasible solution. Perhaps as a united force change could be made with their radical ideas.

Aristotle, the founder of political science said that "the man who is isolated - who is unable to share in the benefits of political association, or has no need to share because he is self-sufficient - is no part of the poli

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Approximate Word count = 1666
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)