Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Race in Mark Twain's Puddn'head Wilson
Race in its sense of a classification of humans can be problematic. What does Twain's novel say about the way that humans were classified in nineteenth-century America? What impact does the society's labeling/classifying of humans have on the characters in the novel? What might this say about the social construct of race?
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Chapter 10
ReplyDelete"A nigger! I am a nigger! Oh, I wish I was dead!" (p52)
"Tom's" hatred against black people is clearly shown through his words. He's rather kill himself than acknowledge that he himself is a nigger.
P5-5
Chapter 3 - Race
ReplyDeleteBecause Tom and Chambers are switched, they don't know what race they are. Tom is actually black and Chambers is white. Chambers is treated like a slave and treated terrible while Tom is treated nicely and appropriately.
This is a race problem because they don't know what race they actually are. Because of this, they are treated poorly, or nicely depending on who they are.
P5-13
ReplyDeleteChapter 2 race
"“Very good,” said the master, putting up his watch, “I will sell you here though you don’t deserve it. You ought to be sold down the river.”
The culprits flung themselves prone, in an ecstasy of gratitude, and kissed his feet, declaring that they would never forget his goodness and never cease to pray for him as long as they lived. They were sincere, for like a god he had stretched forth his mighty hand and closed the gates of hell against them." P15 This text shows that race played an important part in the setting of this book, it also shows that even if someone is courteous to that race it doesn't mean that they are not racist. Even though Driscoll treated his slaves with respect he still had slaves, furthermore showing the race theme in the book.
P 1-1
Chpt. 4
ReplyDelete"Judge Driscoll had gone privately to his brother, a month before, and bought Chambers. He had heard that Tom had been trying to get his father to sell the boy down the river..."
This shows a racial conflict because "Tom" is white, but "Chambers" is considered black. So Tom plans to sell "Chambers" down the river since he is also considered a slave because of his race.
P1-13
Chapter 4
ReplyDeleteThey meant to call Chambers by a new name after this, and make it common in the town- "Tom Driscoll's nigger pappy".
This is race because they called him nigger and so they are calling him names because he's black. The only reason they are doing this is because "Chambers" is part black and not white like the others.
P1-2
Chapter 2
ReplyDelete"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 was a slave, and salable as such."
Even though Roxy was almost full white, the tiny part of black in her made her a slave. This shows how corrupt the system was, and how it was un-honorable to be at least a little black. It also implies that there might've not been many blacks to be slaves, so they took anyone that was at least a little black.
P1-12
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete"The twins had accepted several invitations... Society was eager to receive them to its bosom."
This shows that the people were very excited to see the twins, they were excited because of their race. The people of Dawson's Landing hadn't ever seen a full Italian person. They wanted to hear all of the interesting adventures the twins have experienced.
P1-4
Chapter 8
ReplyDelete"Who gave you permission to come and disturb me with the social attentions of niggers?" (42)
Tom is being very racist to Chambers, who is actually white, not black. He is acting like the alpha over chambers because he doesn't know that if everyone knew their lives were switched, he'd be living the negro life instead of the rich/high maintenance life.
P2-4
Race in Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson
ReplyDeleteChapter 4
"Tom got all the petting, Chambers got none. Tome got all the delicacies, Chambers got mush and milk, and clabber without sugar."
This quote shows that completely white people were treated much better than those who had even just a little black blood in them. As a result of this difference in treatment, "Tom" grew up to be very whiny and dishonest while "Chambers" grew up to be kind and hardworking.
P7-24
Chapter 4
ReplyDeleteP7-13
"Judge Driscoll had gone privately to his brother, a month before, and bought Chambers. He had heard that Tom had been trying to get his father to sell the boy down the river..."
This shows the conflict between the black and white people. This was a problem because it made people be mistreated and abused.
Chapter 8
ReplyDelete"'Please, Marse Tom!-- Oh, please, Marse Tom!' Seven blows- then Tom said, 'Face the door-march!' He followed behind with one, two, thee solid kicks to the side."
Even though at this moment Tom was actually the negro and the caucasian, because of taught racial discrimination, Chambers was beat by his "caucasian" master just because he spoke to him. This shows how racism was at it's best in the mid-eighteen hundreds.