A New Orleans State of Mind
One of my favorite novels is A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1981 but unfortunately the author was not alive to enjoy his success. Written years earlier and published in 1980 due to the efforts of his mother and writer friend Walker Percy, Toole’s words live on.
Set in the city of New Orleans, Toole’s hometown, the book aptly captures the dialects and culture of one of the most unique cities in America where this week I’ve been visiting in advance of Mardi Gras.
A comic novel filled with rich insights, irony and humor the narrative o follows the adventures of Ignatius J. Reilly, an overweight lazy and by his own accounts, overeducated scholar.
One of many memorable quotes,
“I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.”
― John Kennedy Toole, Confederacy of Dunces
The book’s title, Conderacy of Dunces refers to a statement in Jonathon Swift’s essay titled, “Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting.”
“When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.”
As the city gets ready for the weekend prior to Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras in French) the streets are filling up with food trucks. Some of those trucks are selling hot dogs and I think of Ignatius attempting to be a hot dog vendor selling Paradise Hot Dogs eating the profits and washing them down with beer. Strolling with alcohol is quite okay and every bar offers drinks-to- go. The easy going lifestyle here contributed to the city’s nickname, “The Big Easy” and the title of James Conway’s 1970 crime novel The Big Easy, which was made into a film in 1986. Social historians credit the introduction of “The Big Easy” nickname to 1960s gossip columnist Betty Guillard.
Another name for the city is NOLA and this week the colors to wear are purple gold and green. Said by some to be symbolic of Justice, faith and power or perhaps because of their association with royalty and glamour, regular Mardi Gras revelers tell me that if you wear those three colors, when not in costume, you are certain to be thrown more loot. Parade revelers may be throwing you anything from candy and beads to doubloons and even decorated shoes.
Masks, glitter, gowns and elaborate headpieces are worn by just about everyone, but it is quite okay to stick with a sweatshirt and blue jeans. The idea is to relax and have a good time, ie. Let the Good Times Roll.
As the weekend approaches the festivities increase. A seat in one of the constructed grandstands to watch a parade costs approximately $50, so many people stake out their space on the sidewalk with folding chairs or elect to stand. They come and wait for hours, before the parade begins while vendors roam the streets selling balloons and cotton candy. Toddlers sitting inside wagons and strollers wait with their parents for the parade to begin. For me the enjoyment is not so much the specific events, but the entire city.
Today the sky is very blue, the coffee is strong, the beignets are sweet and the jazz bands are playing. And it’s almost Mardi Gras.
Thank you for reading and here is a brief WRITING PROMPT
Think about ways you have a good time. Is it going to a party and laughing with friends or is it sitting on the porch with a favorite book? Write a paragraph about a feel-good moment. It could be pertaining to you or a fictional character. This exercise can be a great way to expand your understanding of yourself and/or the characters in a story you are writing. What gives them pleasure? What is their definition of a good time.
If you don’t already follow me on Substack, WordPress, or Medium please do… it’s free and you can also visit my website Nadjamaril.com to read more of my work. Have a great week.
Originally published at http://nadjamaril.com on February 9, 2024.
