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Characters:.
I will introduce the main characters in a detailed way, and the less important, only briefly.
Pudd'nhead Wilson, originally called David Wilson, is a young lawyer who comes into the small town named Dawson's Landing. As he isn't recognised as a lawyer in this town, he spends most of his time in scientific hobbies like fingerprinting.
Roxy is a young slave who works for Percy Driscoll. .
Although she is black one doesn't notice it at first site because .
only one-sixteenth of her is of black. She passes for white.
Next to taking care of her master's son Tom, Roxy also has to look after her own son Chambers. The two boys grow up together. In order to save her son Chambers from growing up to become a slave, she switches him with Tom who looks just like Chambers. Her son, now called "Tom-, grows up as a white man and Tom, now called "Chambers- grows up as a slave.
Judge Driscoll is the judge of Dawson's Landing. He and his wife are childless, but adopt "Tom" when the judge's brother, Percy Driscoll, dies. .
Luigi and Angelo are Italian twins who come to Dawson's Landing in reply to an ad placed by Aunt Patsy, who is looking for a boarder. They are very popular in this small town because of their extravagant appearance and because of being the only foreigners in town.
Pembroke Howard is a lawyer and a close friend of Judge Driscoll's.
Mrs. Pratt is Judge Driscoll's sister.
Colonel Cecil Burleigh Essex dies the same year as Percy Driscoll. He is the father of Roxy's son, Chambers.
Aunt Patsy is the widow who takes the twins in as boarders. .
Rowena is Aunt Patsy's daughter.
Thesis: .
"Pudd'nhead Wilson, by Mark Twain is to be read as a critique of 19th century hierarchies based on racial division."".
I will fortify my opinion first of all by giving explanations on Mark Twain's attitude towards slaves and his experiences with them, and then by introducing his novel "Puddn'head Wilson-. .
Arthur G. Pettit gives a good overview on Mark Twain's life and his views on slavery.
