History
477
Devine
Though
Mark Twain’s novella, Pudd’nhead Wilson (1894),
is set in the antebellum [pre-Civil War] South, Twain is satirizing not only
the Old South, but leveling a withering critique of his own society’s obsession
with race, racial categories, and policing racial boundaries. (Recall that
within two years of the book’s publication, the Supreme Court would endorse the
principle of “separate but equal.”)
As you read the
book, it will be useful to keep the following questions and issues in mind:
First
off, don’t ignore the quotes from Pudd’nhead’s
calendar that begin each chapter. Read them closely, since they offer some
clues as to Twain’s own world view. How
would you characterize the sentiments expressed in these quotes?
What
does Twain think of the people in
Why
do you think Twain has Puddn’head tell the joke about
the “half a dog”? One critic has argued that the “dog” is essentially a
metaphor for society itself. Why would he say this?
What
position does Twain seem to take on the age-old “nature vs nurture”
debate? How does Twain seem to explain
the various characters’ behavior? Are
they shaped more by their “blood” or their environment?
How
is Tom viewed by society and his mother? Are his character flaws a result of
his upbringing, his “black blood,” his “First Family of Virginia white blood,”
both, or neither?
Do
you think Twain the author agrees with Roxy the character that Tom is a bad
person because he has black blood in him (if only 1/32 part)?
Though
the book is obviously challenging social attitudes regarding race, the author
also mocks class pretensions and notions of “Southern honor.” In what specific episodes does Twain target
“Southern honor” and those who adhere to its “code”?
As
an author, Twain loved dualities and juxtaposing contradictory ideas. How does he do this in Pudd’nhead
Wilson? What are some of these
dualities? [Hint: “Pudd’nhead” is the smartest person
in town; the Judge is shocked
that Tom would do something so dishonorable as to avoid a duel and instead take
his complaint against the Twins to a court of law]
What
does Twain seem to think of the law and the legal process? Are “justice” and
“the law” one and the same?
The
novel ends with Tom being sent down the river. Is this a “happy ending” in the
sense that “order” has been restored – everything is put back in its proper
place? What do you make of the ending?
What
is the relationship between the law, honor, and race in Pudd’nhead Wilson? [You might think of this in terms of mapping the three
concepts as we did last week.]
What,
if any, lessons or messages do you believe Twain is trying to convey in this
book?
How
might an audience in 1894 respond differently to this book than an audience
might today?
Finally,
choose a specific passage in the novel that you believe best illustrates
Twain’s abilities as a satirist.
Bookmark it and be ready to explain in class why you picked this
passage.