Santa Battaglia Character Analysis in A Confederacy of Dunces

Santa Battaglia is a vivacious older woman and the aunt of Patrolman Mancuso. She befriends Irene and Claude Robichaux and convinces them to start a romantic relationship. Santa is formidable and overbearing. She bosses Irene around and competes with Ignatius, Irene’s son, for Irene’s attention. While Irene always gives in to Ignatius, Santa convinces her not to be so soft and even plots to have Ignatius committed to a mental institution because he will not behave. Although Santa comes across as something of a busy-body—she and Irene are always gossiping and whispering on the phone—Santa seems to be a good influence on Irene because she helps her learn to stand up for herself against Ignatius. However, Santa does not always consider the consequences of her schemes and seems more fixated on the idea of Claude and Irene getting married than on the fact that she plans to have Ignatius wrongfully committed ton insane asylum. Santa is of Italian descent and many of her character traits—her many Catholic statues all over the house and her large, abrasive family— parody stereotypes about the American Italian community.

Santa Battaglia Character Timeline in A Confederacy of Dunces

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

...Irene tells him that she is going out bowling with Patrolman Mancuso and Mancuso’s aunt, Santa Battaglia. Ignatius is extremely annoyed by this. Irene tells him he has a letter from... (full context)

...and she blows it to the floor. The phone rings and Irene answers. It is Santa Battaglia. The two women reminisce about how poor they were growing up, and then Santa... (full context)

Santa asks if Irene remembers the night they went bowling, when Patrolman Mancuso got arrested. Irene... (full context)

...the back door and sees his mother laughing happily as she and Patrolman Mancuso watch Santa Battaglia dance. Patrolman Mancuso begs Santa to stop and worries that Ignatius will come back,... (full context)

...Ignatius hurries to his room, opens the window, and throws a bottle of ink at Santa Battaglia’s car as it drives off with his mother and Patrolman Mancuso inside. (full context)

Appearance, Identity, and Disguise Theme Icon

Irene phones Santa and tells her that Ignatius has become a hot dog vendor. Irene is distraught and... (full context)

Sexuality, Attraction, and Repulsion Theme Icon

Irene complains about Ignatius again and Santa tries to cheer her up. Santa says it is not Irene’s fault that Ignatius is... (full context)

Medievalism, Modernity, and Fate Theme Icon

...the string breaks when he spins it. He can hear Irene on the phone to Santa, complaining about all the money she spent on her parents. (full context)

Santa prepares for her party and greets Irene and Patrolman Mancuso excitedly when they arrive. Santa... (full context)

Irene continues to complain about Ignatius as Santa leads them into the kitchen. Santa sends Mancuso to make them some drinks while Irene... (full context)

Irene makes a second drink and Santa wonders where Claude is. Irene compliments her on the house—she can barely hear the neighbors... (full context)

Santa lets Claude in and introduces him to Irene. Irene stares into her drink and will... (full context)

Claude says that he hates the police; they are all communists. Santa suggests that the police have a hard job and are doing their best. Claude disagrees... (full context)

A moment later, Patrolman Mancuso walks in and Claude leaps up in a fury. Santa and Irene defend Patrolman Mancuso; the incident was not his fault, they say, but Ignatius’s.... (full context)

Santa, Irene, and Claude meet at Santa’s house for dinner and discuss a new Debbie Reynolds... (full context)

Claude and Irene compliment Santa on the food and Claude says that he likes to cook. Santa nudges Irene and... (full context)

Santa suggests that they all go see the Debbie Reynolds movie and Claude enthusiastically agrees. Irene... (full context)

Santa, Irene, and Claude walk through the neighborhood, which is noisy and lively in the warm... (full context)

...heads home. When he arrives at his house, he finds Irene on the phone to Santa. When Irene hears Ignatius arrive, she abruptly stops the conversation and drops her voice to... (full context)

In her house, Santa holds up the article about Ignatius and shows it to her mother’s picture, which sits... (full context)

Irene phones Santa and tells her that, for Ignatius’s own good, they must have him committed to the... (full context)

Santa says that she will call the hospital and tells Irene to get herself out of... (full context)

Ignatius suspects Irene is up to something. He heard her whispering on the phone to Santa, and she has mentioned to him that Santa wants him committed to a mental institution.... (full context)