Mr. Clyde Character Analysis in A Confederacy of Dunces

Mr. Clyde runs Paradise Vendors, a hot dog cart business, from his garage in New Orleans. Mr. Clyde hires Ignatius when Ignatius stops by to purchase a hot dog. Mr. Clyde is a good-hearted but quick-tempered old man, who has worked hard to build a business up from nothing. He is annoyed because hot dog vendors have such a bad reputation—they are widely considered to be “bums”—and becomes frustrated with Ignatius when Ignatius fails to make any money, eats all the hotdogs himself, and gets Mr. Clyde a health warning because he stops to play with a cat while pushing his cart. However, Mr. Clyde gives Ignatius several chances before firing him in the end. He has heard Ignatius’s stories about how his mother, Irene, is a drunk who steals all his wages, and feels sorry for Ignatius. This suggests that Mr. Clyde is a tolerant and kindly character.

Mr. Clyde Character Timeline in A Confederacy of Dunces

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

Medievalism, Modernity, and Fate Theme Icon

...this road, Ignatius smells the hot dogs and goes inside. He finds an old man, Mr. Clyde , cooking sausages there, and asks for several hot dogs. While he talks with Mr.... (full context)

Ignatius refuses—his health is too delicate to stand out in the cold all day. Mr. Clyde asks Ignatius to pay for the hot dogs he has eaten, and Ignatius says he... (full context)

Appearance, Identity, and Disguise Theme Icon

Mr. Clyde apologizes for his outburst but explains that no one respects the hot dog trade. He... (full context)

...He runs the last few paces to the open door and, when he arrives, tells Mr. Clyde that he has been robbed and that the thief stole all his hot dogs. Mr.... (full context)

Ignatius tells Mr. Clyde that he must get a job to appease his mother, who drinks, and says that... (full context)

Ignatius arrives at his job at Paradise Vendors and is immediately berated by Mr. Clyde . A public health violation has been issued against Ignatius because he was seen playing... (full context)

Mr. Clyde feels sorry for Ignatius and says that he does not want to fire him. Mr.... (full context)

...on the door outside. He works on the “Diary of a Working Boy” and describes Mr. Clyde ’s request that Ignatius sell hot dogs in the French Quarter, which Ignatius views as... (full context)

...now forced out into the world and must struggle to make a living. What’s worse, Mr. Clyde now makes him dress up as a pirate to sell hot dogs because, he says,... (full context)

...again and almost forgets his hot dog cart. That afternoon, he returns the cart to Mr. Clyde as usual. (full context)

Ignatius feels that his luck has changed. He gives Mr. Clyde a portion of his money from George and then cheerfully heads home. When he arrives... (full context)

Mr. Clyde opens the morning paper and sees the report on Ignatius. He immediately decides that Ignatius... (full context)

...phone rings and Irene answers. When she hangs up, she tells Ignatius that it was Mr. Clyde on the phone, and that Ignatius is fired. (full context)