Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Social Status in Mark Twain's Puddn'head Wilson
What factors are involved in the social status of characters in Puddn'head Wilson? (wealth, gender, politics, education, race) What does the novel's treatment of characters say about social status? Which characters have a change in their social status? What is Twain saying about social status?
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Chapter 8
ReplyDelete"Fine nice young white gen'l'man kneeling down to a nigger wench!"(p.46)
Tom is supposedly "white" so he is in a terrible situation because Roxy is a freed slave, but she is still black. The social statuses of these to are totally different because no "white" person should to kneel to a black; its the opposite.
P5-4
Ch. 10
ReplyDelete"Tom" started acting completely differently when he discovered that he was black. He was ashamed of it, and did not want anybody to find out. He grew to hate his uncle, because his uncle had the ability to sell him as if he were a dog. He knew that if anybody found out that he was black, his social status would be nonexistent.
P6-5
Chapter 5
ReplyDelete"yes i reckon they will make a grand stir." "Oh, indeed they will. The whole town will be on its head! Think they've been in Europe and everywhere! Theres never been a traveler in this town before..." Do to the fact that this town is very small the twins reputation began before they had even arrived. Everyone believed that they were high in social ranking do to the fact that they had been around the world.
P6-3
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ReplyDeleteChapters 1-2 Social Status
ReplyDeleteThe social status of one is a major theme in the story; the following quotes show that if he had a good standing he would have been a successful man. "But for an unfortunate remark of his, he would no doubt have entered at once upon a successful career at Dawson’s Landing." p8 "But his deadly remark had ruined his chance—at least in the law. No clients came." P9 As one can see this man would have been a top lawyer in the town if he only had a righteous part of society. The book revolves around this issue and what Wilson does to solve it, showing how prominent a role this theme plays.
P1-1
This might go under reputation. P1-1
DeleteCh 10
ReplyDeleteP1-16
In this chapter after "Tom" discovers the truth of being switched at birth, he feels out of place.Only Roxy and him know the truth behind him being a slave, This lowers his status from Judge Driscoll's nephew, to slave. His thoughts and perspective on life totally changed afterwards, but he trys his best to hide it.
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete“A few tried to rise to the emergency, and got out an awkward ‘My lord,’ or ‘Your lordship,’ or something of that sort, but the great majority were overwhelmed by the unaccustomed word and its dim and awful associations with gilded courts and stately ceremony and anointed kingship, so they only fumbled through the handshake and passed on, speechless.” (Twain 34)
The people of the town were unfamiliar with having people with such high social status as the twins in their presence. They were awkward and uncomfortable with the twins and had a rushed greeting because of their social status.
P1-3
Ch 5
ReplyDeleteP1-14
"Tom was petted and indulged and spoiled to his entire content-- or nearly that. This went on till he was nineteen, then he was sent to Yale."
Toms social status here is seen as high, he was a spoiled child all because they taught he was white, he always had everything he needed and was raised well in the white family. If "Tom" had not been switched at birth, he would have lived a poor life like the real Tom did and therefore that played a major role in the story
Ch 5
ReplyDeleteP1-14
"Tom was petted and indulged and spoiled to his entire content-- or nearly that. This went on till he was nineteen, then he was sent to Yale."
Toms social status here is seen as high, he was a spoiled child all because they thought he was white, he always had everything he needed and was raised well in the white family. If "Tom" had not been switched at birth, he would have lived a poor life like the real Tom did and therefore that played a major role in the story
"'Ole Missus, de house of plum’ jam full o’ people, en dey’s jes a-spi’lin’ to see de gen’lemen!' She indicated the twins with a nod of her head, and tucked it back out of sight again."
ReplyDeleteThis shows that the people really wanted to see the Capello twins because they were from Europe and the town's people do not usually see people from different countries. So because of that they were already liked by the town.
P2-16
Ch 6.
ReplyDeleteP2-16
"'Ole Missus, de house of plum’ jam full o’ people, en dey’s jes a-spi’lin’ to see de gen’lemen!' She indicated the twins with a nod of her head, and tucked it back out of sight again." P. 33
This shows that the people really wanted to see the Capello twins because they were from Europe and the town's people do not usually see people from different countries.
Chapter 2
ReplyDelete"I got somep'n' better to do den 'sociat'n wid niggers as black as you."
This shows that if you weren't African American, your social status was very important. Even if you were talking to an African American and having a normal conversation, people would treat you differently. People would treat and talk to you in a very mean way if you wanted to befriend a African American.
P2-1
Chapter 1
ReplyDeleteSocial Status
York Leicester Driscoll (Judge Driscoll) is its chief citizen, a judge and a member of an old Virginia family, a heritage of which he is very proud.
York Leicester Driscoll social status is that he is its head citizen, judge and member of an old virginia family, which a heritage that which he is proud of. He is proud to be a judge in his community and help bring justice.
p2-18
Chapter 7
ReplyDelete"Judge Driscoll had the good fortune to secure them for an immediate drive, and to be the first to display them in public. They entered his buggy with him and were paraded down the main street, everybody flocking to the windows and sidewalks to see." (36)
This passage shows that Judge Driscoll's status or social rank gave him the privilege to be driven and shown first at the charity event. If he were anything lower than a judge he probably would not be able to get shown first let alone driven there. Another point is that the judge must be very influential in the community to be watched as his car goes down the street. He and his family are gawked over because of their high rank. In general, social status gives people privileges that an average joe cannot possibly have.
Ch. 6
ReplyDelete"...each was the constant center of a group of breathless listeners; each recognized that she knew now for the first time the real meaning of that great word Glory, and perceived the stupendous value of it, and under- stand why men in all ages had been willing to throw away meaner happiness, treasure, life itself, to get a taste of its sub- lime and supreme joy."
The mother and daughter who were housing the twins were basking in the attention the exotic twins drew from the people of the small town. This made feel special and mighty like how someone would feel if they had gotten on TV, it was their 15 minutes of fame.
P7-14
Delete