The Big Green Caps
(A.K.A.: Team 1)
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
&
Ignatius J. Reilly
By: Andrew, Anne, Connie and Diana
Narcissism
Greek Myth
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Narcissus was beautiful and told he
would live long if he did not look
at himself.
He got lots of attention from the
nymphs. One in particular, Echo,
who he rejected was so distraught,
she faded away into a whisper.
Nemesis heard of the rejection and
sought vengeance and arranged for
Narcissus to fall in love with his
own reflection.
He fixated upon his own beauty
and its reflection and there died.
Sigmund Freud

Theorized that primary narcissism is a
developmental stage in which all of the
libido is invested in the self.

Later if the libido was invested in
others, less would be invested in one’s
own ego.

On the other hand, if the libido were
not invested and was focused inwardly,
the result would be the individual
would be less connected and not be
able to relate to others.

What do you think?
DSM-IV-TR

A pervasive pattern of
grandiosity (in fantasy or
behavior), need for
admiration, and lack of
empathy, beginning by
early adulthood and
present in a variety of
contexts, as indicated by
five (or more) of the
following.
DSM-IV Narcissistic criteria
(1) Grandiose sense of self importance
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When writing in his journal he notes of the “revolutionary innovations” he is
contributing to Levy Pants Co., such as arriving to work late so he is refreshed
and rested to work and by throwing the files in the rubbish to decrease
potential fire hazards. (Toole, 1980, ch. 4)
“I shall act as a sort of mentor and guide for the movement, my not
inconsiderable knowledge of world history, economics, religion, and political
strategy acting as a reservoir, as it were, from which these people can draw
rules of operational procedure” (Toole, 1980, p. 270).
*Where Ignatius is ignored by the group of party members and how it makes
him feel, is in contrary to a “grandiose sense of self-importance” “Ignatius,
feeling just as invisible standing there in Dorian’s living room, began feinting
at some imaginary opponent with his cutlass to relieve his self-consciousness”
(Toole, 1980, p. 333-334).
DSM-IV Narcissistic criteria
(2) Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power,
brilliance, beauty, or ideal love
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“I hope that you carry liability insurance. If not, you
may well lose this flamboyant property once my legal
advisors have attended to you” (Toole, 1980, p. 336).
On page 269, Ignatius writes extensively about how he
will infiltrate the military and the possibly the
presidency with his new political party so they can
overthrow all existing governments so that the world
will no longer focus on war, but orgies. (Toole, 1980)
DSM-IV Narcissistic criteria
(3) Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be
understood by, or should associate with other special or high-status
people or institutions
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When Mr. Clyde offers Ignatius a job pushing a hot dog
cart, Ignatius is offended, like this is beneath him. (Toole,
1980, ch. 7)
“Clearly, an area like the French Quarter is not the proper
environment for a clean-living, chaste, prudent, and
impressionable young working boy. Did Edison, Ford, and
Rockefeller have to struggle against such odds?” (Toole,
1980, p. 227).
“…for I mingle with my peers or no one, and since I have
no peers, I mingle with no one” (Toole, 1980, p 142).
DSM-IV Narcissistic criteria
(4) Requires excessive admiration

“A group of tourists wandered along the streets, their
cameras poised, their glittering eyeglasses shining like
sparklers. Noticing me, they paused and …..begged me
to pose for a photograph. Pleased by their gracious
attention, I acquiesced. For minutes they snapped away
as I obliged them with several artful poses” (Toole,
1980, p. 231).
DSM-IV Narcissistic
criteria
(5) Sense of entitlement
 “Ignatius gave the driver a clipboard and a variety of instructions
upon speed, direction and shifting. By the time they had reached
Constantinople Street there was a hostile silence in the taxi, which
was only broken by the driver’s request for the fare” ( p. 90).
 “Pardon me, Ignatius said. Mother are you going to entertain this
gentleman all afternoon? I would like to remind you that I am
going to go to the movies tonight and I am due at the theater
promptly at seven so I can see the cartoon. I would suggest that
you begin preparing something to eat” (Toole, 1980).
DSM-IV Narcissistic
criteria
(6) Is interpersonally
exploitive
 Ignatius takes it upon himself to lead the factory
workers in a demonstration against Levy Pants after
convincing them that they are treated unfairly and are
being oppressed. He uses the factory workers and this
bogus demonstration as a way to make Myrna jealous
of his social crusade. (Toole, 1980)
 “The boy with the magnificent photographs was
definitely a find. Ignatius wondered if he could
blackmail him into watching the wagon every
afternoon” ( p. 290).
DSM-IV Narcissistic criteria
(7) Lacks empathy
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*Mother tells him that the doctor says her elbow has to be
massaged due to her pain and Ignatius says, "I hope you
don't want me to do that. You know how I feel about
touching other people" (Toole, 1980, p. 12).
He is not interested in how his mother is going to come up
with the money to pay for the contractor, he doesn't
volunteer any solutions or anything. "We can mortgage the
house. Mortgage the house? Of course we won't. What else
we gonna do Ignatius? There are means Ignatius said
absently. I wish you wouldn't bother me with this" (Toole,
1980, p. 49).
DSM-IV Narcissistic criteria
(9) Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
When George tries to buy a hot dog from Ignatius, he insults his pimply
complexion, calls him a waif, rams him in the crotch with his cart and refuses
to sell him a hot dog on the grounds that " I, for one, will not contribute to
the debauchery of a minor" (Toole, 1980, p. 161).
Referring to Angelo and Santa:
 *"My mother is currently associating with some undesirables who are
attempting to transform her into an athlete of sorts, depraved specimens of
mankind who regularly bowl their way to oblivion" (Toole, 1980, p 119).
Complaint from board of health for playing with a cat:
 "I assure you that I have been the very soul of cleanliness. My intimate habits
are above reproach. Carrying no social diseases, I don't see what I could
possibly transmit to your hot dogs, that they do not already have. Look at
these fingernails." (Toole, 1980, p. 207)
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Final Thoughts
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Ignatius exhibits eight out of nine criteria mentioned in
the DSM-IV-TR.
We did not find any strong examples of Ignatius
exhibiting criteria number eight.
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(8) is often envious of others or believes that others are
envious of him or her.
Considering Ignatius exhibits more than five of the
criteria; It is our unprofessional opinion that Ignatius
suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical
manual of mental disorders (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author
Dubin, William. Generic psychotherapy. Retrieved Feb. 24, 2008 from
http://www.columbia.edu/~wd16/glossary.htm
Toole, J. K. (1980). A confederacy of dunces. New York, NY: Grove
Press
Upright, M. (2004). Narcissus. Retrieved Feb. 22, 2008 from
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/mythology/europe/greek/artic
les.html
GGC Wiki page link:
http://wiki.ggc.usg.edu/mediawiki/index.php/PSYC3410_Psychopathology