Examples Of Class In Pudd Nhead Wilson

Mark Twain addresses class in two ways in Pudd’nhead Wilson. Mr. Twain uses two groups, blacks and whites, as the class system in the narrative. There are white individuals who view themselves as higher than that of their black counter parts. Then there are the African American slaves, who even though some like Roxy and her son are only a fraction of African descent are still considered slaves. Mark Twain describes to the reader the harshness towards those who looked white, but were still sold into slavery. Mr. Twain shows this when describing Roxy and the two boys by saying:

To all intents and purposes Roxy was as white as anybody, but the one sixteenth of her which was black outvoted the other fifteen parts and made her a negro. She

First being with Pudd’nhead Wilson and his love for fingerprints. Before social security numbers the easiest way to identify someone was either by their signature or fingerprint. Everyone’s fingerprints are different. The other strong notion of identity in the book is that of palm reading. Pudd’nhead Wilson reads the palm of Luigi to find out that he had once killed a man. In that chapter “Tom” is asked if he wants to have his palm read and in trying to keep his identity a secret, declines. “Tom” shares with the audience that, “a man’s own hand is his deadliest enemy” (Twain, 129). This notion is almost foreshadowing that “Tom” will be discovered by his fingerprints from his hand to show the town his true identity. The identity of the boys, Tom and Chambers becomes a focal point for the subject of identity throughout the book. They both get their fingerprints taken at a young age and that inevitably brings forth the downfall of Roxy’s son “Tom”. This sort of identity is that of racial identity. One boy is white and the other is black. Their appearance is almost the same yet they are both destined for different paths. Mark Twain uses Tom and Chambers to show the reader how easy it is for them to switch identities without anyone knowing. Mr. Twain is trying to show the reader that even though “Tom” is a black slave he still becomes heartless while the white master’s son becomes a respectful slave.