In his novel A Confederacy of Dunces, John Kennedy Toole gives Burma Jones a stereotypical role in society. By hiding Jones' face behind space-age sunglasses and a cloud of smoke, Toole maintains Jones' ambiguity while gradually moving away from his stereotype. During his employment at the Night of Joy bar, he learns his limits regarding Lana Lee and his own tasks. Jones becomes familiar with his surroundings to the point that he recognizes not only his own exploitation, but also the many other atrocities committed by Lana Lee. When Jones exposes Lana Lee at the end of the novel, he completely shatters her stereotype. Throughout A Confederacy of Dunces, Jones remains fully aware of his situation and uses his stereotype to effectively manipulate his situation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay From the moment Toole introduces Jones to the police station, he regularly references Jones' glasses and the cloud of smoke which seems to surround him. him in order to subtly downplay Jones' identity. In addition to keeping Jones relatively anonymous, Toole uses smoke and sunglasses as metaphors to symbolize the stereotype that society casts Jones into. When Lana Lee physically attempts to see Jones through her dark glasses, she is also attempting to see Jones beyond his stereotype. Her lack of success in this area often makes her feel uncomfortable. “I told you to take off the glasses, Jones.” “The glasses stay on.” Jones slammed the push broom against a bar stool. “For twenty dollars a week, you run a plantation here. “Stop banging that broom against the bar,” she shouted. “Damn, you’re making me nervous.” » Then the cloud of smoke and the broom moved on the ground (Toole 70). Toole uses the word "nervous" to reveal Lana Lee's feeling of discomfort. Lana becomes nervous not only because of Jones' seemingly reckless schemes, but also because of the anonymity he manages to maintain throughout his employment. Toole reveals that Lana Lee feels something extraordinary about Jones and cannot understand his sarcastic comments and sharp remarks. Physically hidden behind her glasses and metaphorically hidden behind her stereotype, Jones skillfully escapes any interpretation of Lana Lee. Lana only sees Jones as "the smoke cloud and the broom." Toole uses this metonymy to emphasize Jones' lack of identity in the eyes of Lana Lee and the rest of society. Toole refers to Jones as "a cloud of smoke and a broom" to present the company's burgeoning vision of Jones. Although hidden behind his stereotype, Jones also recognizes the security of his job due to his codependent relationship with Lana Lee. He understands Lana Lee's economic dependence on him and regularly tests her limits when he works. Jones knows he can't give up for fear of wandering, but he regularly asserts his opinions. When asked to run an errand for Lana, Jones flatly refuses. You can't scare people of color anymore. I've had people form a human chain outside your door, drive out your business and put you on the TV news. Colored people have already taken enough crap, and for twenty dollars a week, you don't take any more. I'm tired of being a vagabond or working below minimum wage. Ask someone else to do your shopping (Toole 71). Toole uses the verb "scare" to emphasize Jones' feeling of confidence when responding to Lana Lee. Along with this confidence, Jones applies his understanding of.