Figuring out what's right or wrong has never been easy. But questions about morality become a million times more complicated in the context of the slaveholding culture of the antebellum South that we encounter in Pudd'nhead Wilson. We might find ourselves wondering, for instance, if we can even hold slaves like Roxy accountable for their actions given their incredibly difficult circumstances. By the same token, we might ask whether we can really condemn slaveholders like Percy Driscoll or Tom for their evil deeds considering that owning other human beings was as socially acceptable for them as singing karaoke is for us. While Twain may not give us all the answers in this novel, he sure helps to get us thinking about these questions.
Questions About Morality and Ethics
- How does the institution of slavery affect characters' morality or sense of right and wrong in this novel?
- We might say that Tom is one immoral dude. Given that he's also the "true black" child (i.e. the one with "negro blood"), is the novel's unflattering portrayal of him a problem?
- Are there any characters in this book who serve as moral or ethical role models?
- How do characters in this book determine what's right or wrong? Does the narrator give us any hints about how to judge or interpret the beliefs and actions of the characters?
Chew on This
Laughing matters: Twain uses humor to address serious moral issues and questions in Pudd'nhead Wilson.
Slavery undermines the morality of blacks and whites alike in this novel.