Pudd Nhead Wilson Character Analysis
One Drop
People are always told that in the end what really matters is who they are. The question is, what all goes into whom a person “is”? Many would argue that personality is the main factor in that equation. However, family and background obviously contribute to a person’s development as well. The society in Pudd’nhead Wilson has decided that race is more important than personality in discovering what makes up a person. Being born white means being born with prestige, while being born black means being born less than human. In the book Pudd’nhead Wilson, one drop of black blood is enough to form the course of a person’s life. Roxana, commonly called “Roxy”, is a slave woman owned by Percy Driscoll. What sets her apart from many slaves is the fact that she …show more content…
Chambers, who is really Tom, is forced to work diligently from a young age. The one drop of black blood which is thought to be in his system is enough to condemn him to a ruthless life of slavery. Tom and Roxy meet again when he has reached adulthood. At this point, his father has died, and he is under the care of his uncle, Judge Driscoll. He is spoiled, rich, and eagerly awaiting the inheritance he will get through his uncle’s will. Tom spends most of his time gambling in St. Louis, wasting his life away. Roxy attempts to speak to him, but he rudely pushes her away (47). Being a strong, smart woman, she is thoroughly enraged by still receiving this treatment so many years later. She angrily tells him that he is not really of white descent and that she will tell everyone what she did if he does not agree to give her money and treat her like a mother. Eventually, a lawyer with a not so great reputation, Pudd’nhead Wilson, discovers the switch by examining his extensive collection of fingerprints (124). He exposes Tom to the people in court and he is sold down the river as a slave. Chambers is given the privileges of being white, but never really adjusts to his new situation because of
People are always told that in the end what really matters is who they are. The question is, what all goes into whom a person “is”? Many would argue that personality is the main factor in that equation. However, family and background obviously contribute to a person’s development as well. The society in Pudd’nhead Wilson has decided that race is more important than personality in discovering what makes up a person. Being born white means being born with prestige, while being born black means being born less than human. In the book Pudd’nhead Wilson, one drop of black blood is enough to form the course of a person’s life. Roxana, commonly called “Roxy”, is a slave woman owned by Percy Driscoll. What sets her apart from many slaves is the fact that she …show more content…
Chambers, who is really Tom, is forced to work diligently from a young age. The one drop of black blood which is thought to be in his system is enough to condemn him to a ruthless life of slavery. Tom and Roxy meet again when he has reached adulthood. At this point, his father has died, and he is under the care of his uncle, Judge Driscoll. He is spoiled, rich, and eagerly awaiting the inheritance he will get through his uncle’s will. Tom spends most of his time gambling in St. Louis, wasting his life away. Roxy attempts to speak to him, but he rudely pushes her away (47). Being a strong, smart woman, she is thoroughly enraged by still receiving this treatment so many years later. She angrily tells him that he is not really of white descent and that she will tell everyone what she did if he does not agree to give her money and treat her like a mother. Eventually, a lawyer with a not so great reputation, Pudd’nhead Wilson, discovers the switch by examining his extensive collection of fingerprints (124). He exposes Tom to the people in court and he is sold down the river as a slave. Chambers is given the privileges of being white, but never really adjusts to his new situation because of