When reading a novel, a reader will often imagine the outcome of the story based on the scenarios built by the author or narrator. In Pudd’nhead Wilson, The Great Gatsby and The Reservation Blues, however, the distinction between the expectation of the readers and the outcome of the story generates a sense of irony. The authors in all three texts use foil pairs to create that kind of conflict. They plot the story so that what we expect to happen on one person, according to one’s characteristics, actually happens on the other. The contrast between readers’ mind set and the ending of the stories suggests that all readers judge the characters based on their actions and assume a denouement for them. However, the foil pairs override the presumptions by using the irony they created. Body Paragraph I In Pudd’nhead Wilson, Mark Twain uses Judge Driscoll and Pudd’nhead Wilson as a foil pair because it gives birth to paradox adding irony to the story. The foil pairs can supersede the reader’s presumptions. Thus, Mark Twain shows that the readers should not prejudge the characters based on their appearance and descriptions because doing so essentially makes the readers “pudd’nheads”. Firstly, Mark Twain juxtaposes Pudd’nhead Wilson with Judge Driscoll by making connections between their occupations and hobbies to show readers that they lead parallel …show more content…
Even though Junior and Victor grow up in a similar environment, they develop completely different characteristic. Judging by Victor’s character, it is easy to presume that he will be the one breaking down when his dream is thwarted, Junior actually gave up first by committing suicide. This outcome differs greatly from what an audience would expect, conveying the underlined lesson that the audience should not generate their own stories for the