Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Theft or Stealing in Mark Twain's Puddn'head Wilson
Taking others property without permission is stealing. "Roxy" steals. "Tom" steals. Was Roxy's swapping of the children "stealing"? Does anyone else steal? What do the examples of stealing in this novel say about the effect of stealing on the perpetrators, the victims, and/or the community as a whole?
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Theft/Stealing in Mark Twain's Puddn'head Wilson
ReplyDeleteChapter 13
"'The Hankses, the Dobsons, the Pilligrew, the Ortons, the Grangers, the Hales, the Fullers, the Holcombs, in face everybody that lives around about Patsy Cooper's had been robbed of little things like trinkets and teaspoons and suchlike small valuables that are easily carried off" (Twain 76).
"Tom" hears Mr. Justice Robinson talk to Wilson and Jim Blake about the raids that have been happening all around town. "Tom" already knows about these raids, because he is actually the thief. He has been stealing things from other people's homes in order to pay off his gambling debts so his uncle won't disinherit him once again. The town residents act as if this thievery is a shameful thing to do; however, "Tom" finds no remorse for his dishonest actions.
P6-18
Chapter 7- Theft/Stealing
ReplyDeleteThe reader knows that the girl in Tom Driscoll's room is Tom Driscoll himself. So we know that he is preparing himself to go steal something to obtain money.
P5-15
Chapter 2 P6-22
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 2 we see the three slaves and Roxy are taken in to the slave masters office and told to admit they committed the crime which they kept denying they did.
The slaves did steal the little trinkets and money the master was talking about which applies to this theme of Theft/Stealing. Although the master finds out that it was only the three slaves that stole because when Roxy had a chance she had just been "reborn" from church so she resisted the temptation.
Ch 13
ReplyDelete". . . Judge Driscoll's old silver watch is gone, and Tom here has missed a gold ring'"
"Tom" has been stealing and people are starting to notice. And once hey bring up the Indian Dagger " Tom" can only think about how unlucky he is to have stolen it. He is worried about being found with it.
P2-8
Ch.3
ReplyDeleteRoxy's swapping of the children was stealing. Stealing of identity. Even though it was for a better cause, as she didn't want her child to be sold down the river, it was still stealing. Because of this, Tom grew up mistreated, and thinking that he was lower than everyone else, while Chambers grew up to be the "master", the one who inflicts pain upon Tom.
p2-22
Chapter 19
ReplyDeleteTheft
“Tom" returns to Dawson's Landing at night. He enters the judge's house and finds him asleep in his study with his money spread before him. Grasping the twins' Indian knife, "Tom" moved toward the money.
This is one of the theft opportunities “Tom” has taken advantage of in the story. “Tom” steals not only the money but the knife which he knows has much value to it.
P2-21
Chapter 3
ReplyDeleteRoxy's switching of the children was stealing, even if it was because of how much she loved her child. It's practically identity theft.
Because of her actions, Tom grew up mistreated and thinking he was below everyone else. While Chambers grew up to be mean, the "master", and the one who mistreats Tom.
P2-22
P7-22
ReplyDeleteChapter 21- Theft/Stealing
"Much stress has been laid upon the fact that the accused offered a very large reward for the knife with which this murder was done; that no thief came forward to claim that extraordinary reward; that the latter fact was good circumstantial evidence that the claim that the knife had been stolen was vanity and fraud..."
This quote is showing that even though a very large reward was offered, no one stepped forward to confess. They made an assumption that the claim was expressed more dramatically than it really was.
Chapter 19
ReplyDeleteIn this chapter it is about how "Tom" decided to steal the money from Judge Driscoll's safe. While he is inside the house he is holding the twin's indian knife while approaching Judge Driscoll when he is waking up.
This example illustrates that he decided to steal the money and the indian knife as well. "Tom" is also aware that he is risking a lot to steal from his friend.
P7-10
Chapter 7
ReplyDeleteTheft/ Stealing
P7-26
"It was a young woman-a young woman where properly no young woman belonged." "This was young Tom Driscoll's bedroom."
The young woman is actually Tom himself in disguise as a woman and is about to go steal something so he can gain more money.