Mrs. Levy Character Analysis in A Confederacy of Dunces

Mrs. Levy is the wife of Mr. Levy and the mother of Susan and Sandra. Mrs. Levy mercilessly persecutes her husband, who she claims has ruined her life. She believes Mr. Levy would like to throw away all his father’s hard work that went into building the factory, Levy Pants, which Mr. Levy has inherited. Mrs. Levy’s criticisms of her husband are partly justified—Mr. Levy does hate Levy Pants and does avoid working there. However, despite this, Mrs. Levy is extremely financially comfortable, and her complaints come off as ungrateful given her luxurious life in a house filled with every modern convenience. In fact, Mrs. Levy seems bored with her comfortable lifestyle and constantly takes up causes in order to stave off this boredom. One of these causes is the rejuvenation of one of Mr. Levy’s employees at Levy Pants, Miss Trixie, a hostile and senile old woman whose only wish is to retire. Mrs. Levy will not let Miss Trixie retire, however—she berates her husband every time he suggests it—and instead takes Miss Trixie under her wing and tries to instill in her a fresh desire to work. It is insinuated that Mrs. Levy takes on these causes and criticizes her husband because she is unfulfilled and wants to avoid taking responsibility for herself or dealing with her own unhappiness. Overall, she is portrayed as a shallow, selfish woman who blames her husband for everything and is only interested in having power over him within their marriage.

Mrs. Levy Character Timeline in A Confederacy of Dunces

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Levy appears in A Confederacy of Dunces. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...them. He has already discovered that Levy Pants is partially controlled by a woman named Mrs. Levy who insists that Miss Trixie must not retire. The only person whom Ignatius disliked was... (full context)

Mr. Levy and Mrs. Levy relax in their lakeside home. Everything in the house is designed to be comfortable and... (full context)

Mrs. Levy says that nothing happens at the factory because Mr. Levy, unlike his father who started... (full context)

Mrs. Levy cries that it is no wonder their daughters have turned out the way they have... (full context)

Mrs. Levy rebukes Mr. Levy for his cruelty. She claims that Miss Trixie needs her job to... (full context)

In the Levys’ home, Mrs. Levy lies on her exercise board and allows herself to be mechanically massaged. Mr. Levy comes... (full context)

Mrs. Levy asks why Ignatius was fired and Mr. Levy tells her about the protest. Mrs. Levy... (full context)

Mr. Levy knows that Mrs. Levy will write to their daughters and will portray him as a heartless monster who has... (full context)

Mrs. Levy says that Mr. Levy has many psychological complexes which need attention. She says that he... (full context)

Mr. Levy says that they should let Miss Trixie retire, but Mrs. Levy is adamant that retirement would kill Miss Trixie. Mr. Levy disagrees, and Mrs. Levy says... (full context)

At Mr. Levy and Mrs. Levy ’s house, Mrs. Levy has finally got Miss Trixie where she wants her. Mrs. Levy... (full context)

Miss Trixie is asleep and is very confused to be woken up by Mrs. Levy . Miss Trixie asks hopefully if she is retired and is angry when Mrs. Levy... (full context)

Miss Trixie wakes up again and tells Mr. Levy and Mrs. Levy to be quiet. She liked it better with Mr. Gonzalez, she says, where it was... (full context)

Appearance, Identity, and Disguise Theme Icon

At Mr. and Mrs. Levy ’s house, Mr. Levy glumly watches Mrs. Levy pamper Miss Trixie, who is asleep on... (full context)

Mr. Levy insists that Mrs. Levy ’s behavior is pointless—Miss Trixie is old and wants to retire. In her sleep, Miss... (full context)

Mr. Levy tells Mrs. Levy not to worry, since there is no one who would buy the factory from him.... (full context)

Mr. Levy watches as Mrs. Levy helps Miss Trixie up the steps into the Levy Pants office. Miss Trixie has had... (full context)

...asks if she has been sent her Easter ham and Mr. Levy begins to drag Mrs. Levy out of the office. Mr. Gonzalez calls Mr. Levy back to give him his mail.... (full context)

...is horrified. He demands to know who wrote the letter, but Mr. Gonzalez doesn’t know. Mrs. Levy snatches the letter and begins to sob that her husband has ruined her. Mr. Levy... (full context)

...Gonzalez tells him it was Ignatius. Mr. Levy wonders if Ignatius wrote the letter, and Mrs. Levy screams that Mr. Levy would blame it on the “young idealist.” Mr. Levy asks for... (full context)

...young man until he started a riot with the workers. Mr. Levy begins to drag Mrs. Levy away as she calls out instructions to Mr. Gonzalez on how he must treat Miss... (full context)

In their car, Mr. and Mrs. Levy continue to argue. Mrs. Levy tells Mr. Levy she will set up a foundation in... (full context)

In Mr. Levy’s house, Mr. Levy flicks through the morning paper, while Mrs. Levy bounces on her exercise board, eats cookies, and draws up plans for her charitable foundation.... (full context)

...comes across the article about Ignatius and says that he has found the “young idealist.” Mrs. Levy looks at the picture of Ignatius in the gutter outside the strip bar and says... (full context)

Mr. Levy realizes that Mrs. Levy wants him to fail so that she can be proven right. He announces that he... (full context)

Mrs. Levy jumps in the car with Mr. Levy and explains to him that she has diagnosed... (full context)

...that she knows more than she lets on. Mr. Levy is amazed (this is what Mrs. Levy has always said about Miss Trixie) and Irene starts to berate Ignatius again. Irene reminds... (full context)

...if Mr. Abelman successfully sues Mr. Levy. Mr. Levy drives back to Miss Trixie’s apartment. Mrs. Levy is inside, and Miss Trixie munches her way through the cookies Mrs. Levy brought. (full context)

Mr. Levy asks Miss Trixie if she wrote the letter to Mr. Abelman. Mrs. Levy scoffs that Mr. Levy is being ridiculous, but Mr. Levy insists that Ignatius said Miss... (full context)

Mr. Levy triumphantly tells Mrs. Levy that the whole situation is her fault because she would not let Miss Trixie retire.... (full context)

Mrs. Levy tearfully asks about the foundation she planned to set up. Mr. Levy says she can... (full context)

Mrs. Levy leaves and Mr. Levy contemplates the day’s events. Miss Trixie falls asleep on the couch.... (full context)