Miss Trixie Character Analysis in A Confederacy of Dunces

Miss Trixie is an elderly employee at Levy Pants factory, which is owned by Mr. Levy. Miss Trixie is senile and is not a very effective employee. She frequently falls asleep at work and spends much of her day wandering aimlessly around the office. Her office manager, Mr. Gonzalez, despairs of her and longs for her to retire. Miss Trixie resents Levy Pants because they will not retire her and is fixated on the idea of receiving an Easter ham from them, which she was promised as a retirement gift. Miss Trixie does not realize that the reason she cannot retire is not her employer, Mr. Levy, but his wife, Mrs. Levy, who projects her own unfulfillment onto Miss Trixie by insisting that Miss Trixie’s work must give her a purpose and make her feel wanted. Miss Trixie takes a befuddled liking to Ignatius when he gets a job at Levy Pants—she confuses him with a previous employee, Gloria (who Ignatius gets fired), and refers to Ignatius as Gloria throughout the course of his time at the factory. In general, Miss Trixie is an angry old woman who wishes to be left in peace. Her hostility comes out when Mrs. Levy buys Miss Trixie a set of new teeth and Miss Trixie uses them to bite Ignatius’s replacement in the office, Mr. Zalatimo.

Miss Trixie Character Timeline in A Confederacy of Dunces

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

...the business. Mr. Gonzalez does not have many regular employees, except an elderly lady named Miss Trixie who has been with the company for years, and who Mr. Levy has given strict... (full context)

Appearance, Identity, and Disguise Theme Icon

Miss Trixie comes into the office, carrying the large bags full of junk which she always has... (full context)

Mr. Gonzalez eagerly introduces Ignatius to Miss Trixie , who mutters something about being promised a Thanksgiving turkey. Ignatius asks about the wage,... (full context)

Medievalism, Modernity, and Fate Theme Icon

Sexuality, Attraction, and Repulsion Theme Icon

...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 a young woman named Gloria,... (full context)

...that he has many plans to revitalize the factory, including getting everyone except himself and Miss Trixie fired. He has convinced Mr. Gonzalez to pay for his taxis to and from work... (full context)

...making a sign for his desk, which showcases his name and position at the company. Miss Trixie steps on it and leaves a shoeprint in the paint, which Ignatius irritably covers up.... (full context)

...help Ignatius up. Ignatius fends him off and screams that his back may be broken. Miss Trixie tries to help but topples over onto Ignatius. Her visor strikes him in the neck... (full context)

...her not to make a big drama out of it. Mrs. Levy then asks about Miss Trixie and wants to know if she still works at the factory. Mr. Levy says she... (full context)

Mrs. Levy rebukes Mr. Levy for his cruelty. She claims that Miss Trixie needs her job to feel valued and says that she would like to bring Miss... (full context)

...coming in an hour late every day, and his top-secret filing method. He writes about Miss Trixie and says that he has tried to befriend her. She seems to hate Levy Pants,... (full context)

...Ignatius has made to the office. Ignatius has decorated, brought plants, and is kind to Miss Trixie . His filing is so rapid Mr. Gonzalez hardly notices him doing it. While Mr.... (full context)

...is his top priority. Ignatius tells Mr. Gonzalez that he has brought a sandwich for Miss Trixie and hopes that Mr. Gonzalez has not “broken her spirit” by sending her home. Miss... (full context)

Miss Trixie munches her way through the sandwich while Ignatius watches. Mr. Gonzalez works on some papers.... (full context)

Mr. Gonzalez rounds irritably on Miss Trixie and Ignatius seizes his opportunity to berate the manager and rile up Miss Trixie. He... (full context)

...that he has decorated the office and that Mr. Gonzalez is a dictator who makes Miss Trixie want to retire. Ignatius describes the conditions in the factory, where most of the workers... (full context)

...hurries into the office and sees the protest standing around confusedly while Mr. Gonzalez and Miss Trixie gape at them. (full context)

...going to prison. Ignatius furiously screams at them to stay. He suggests they could attack Miss Trixie instead, but the demonstration comes to an end. (full context)

...Mr. Levy has many psychological complexes which need attention. She says that he has treated Miss Trixie appallingly and Mr. Levy is confused. Mrs. Levy says that Mr. Levy has destroyed her... (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,... (full context)

At Mr. Levy and Mrs. Levy’s house, Mrs. Levy has finally got Miss Trixie where she wants her. Mrs. Levy has always loved causes, and for years has wanted... (full context)

Miss Trixie is asleep and is very confused to be woken up by Mrs. Levy. Miss Trixie... (full context)

Miss Trixie wakes up again and tells Mr. Levy and Mrs. Levy to be quiet. She liked... (full context)

At Mr. and Mrs. Levy’s house, Mr. Levy glumly watches Mrs. Levy pamper Miss Trixie , who is asleep on the couch. Mr. Levy despairs of his wife. He is... (full context)

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

...have a bath, and when he comes downstairs, finds Mrs. Levy putting a wig on Miss Trixie . Miss Trixie does not seem to like this and snaps and swears at Mrs.... (full context)

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

Miss Trixie asks if she has been sent her Easter ham and Mr. Levy begins to drag... (full context)

...would blame it on the “young idealist.” Mr. Levy asks for Ignatius’s phone number and Miss Trixie snaps that she is charge of the phones. Mr. Levy asks her for the number... (full context)

...Levy away as she calls out instructions to Mr. Gonzalez on how he must treat Miss Trixie . After they have gone, Mr. Zalatimo approaches Miss Trixie and asks her for help... (full context)

...he will stop by Levy Pants and Mrs. Levy says that she is worried about Miss Trixie , as she heard that Miss Trixie bit Mr. Zalatimo. Mr. Levy thinks that Levy... (full context)

...“death wish” as they speed towards the factory. Mr. Levy drops Mrs. Levy off at Miss Trixie ’s house and drives on alone to Ignatius’s. When he arrives, Annie shouts through the... (full context)

...is under attack, he says, by Irene and her friends. Ignatius suggests Mr. Levy asks Miss Trixie about the letter. Mr. Levy protests that Miss Trixie is too old, but Ignatius says... (full context)

...his “Journal of a Working Boy,” which suggest that Ignatius loves Levy Pants and that Miss Trixie knows more than she lets on. Mr. Levy feels ill because of the smell in... (full context)

...off the fine 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... (full context)

Mr. Levy asks Miss Trixie if she wrote the letter to Mr. Abelman. Mrs. Levy scoffs that Mr. Levy is... (full context)

...tells Mrs. Levy that the whole situation is her fault because she would not let Miss Trixie retire. Mrs. Levy grows upset, but Mr. Levy announces that he will rebrand Levy Pants... (full context)

...she must go to the nearby grocers and telephone Jones from there to tell him. Miss Trixie snaps that while Mrs. Levy is there, she can buy her a retirement ham, and... (full context)

Mrs. Levy leaves and Mr. Levy contemplates the day’s events. Miss Trixie falls asleep on the couch. Mr. Levy ponders over the letter and thinks that he... (full context)