Wilson the Loon by Mark Twain is a "genealogical puzzle" of a novel as the one-drop rule subjects the characters to a tragic existence. The pseudoscience of race and what constitutes black and white are prevalent themes in Roxy's complicated victimhood. Her self-loathing serves as the catalyst for Tom and Chambers' fates as her decisions were based on her internalized racism and repressed white supremacy. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The term “double consciousness” was coined by W. E. B. Du Bois in The Souls of Black Folk, describing the internal conflicts of a minority group in an oppressive society. In relation to his own struggles, Du Bois explains that the general experience of African Americans is to see and evaluate themselves through a white perspective. Although Du Bois's piece was published later than Pudd'nhead Wilson, Roxy is the perfect embodiment of double consciousness as she "had an easy, independent bearing - when she was part of her own caste - and a high and 'cheeky' manner ” as “he was quite meek and humble where there were white people.” He changed his identity depending on who he was with, eventually using it as a self-defense mechanism to accommodate “the duplicity…an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled efforts; two conflicting ideals in a dark body” while she continued to consider herself alone in a strictly black and white society. The problem he faces with his split identity contributes to his self-destructive behavior and the fact that he projects his insecurities onto Tom and Chambers. This then leads to the tumultuous relationship between "Tom" and Roxy, where Tom justifies his treatment of Roxy through pseudoscience. citing the supposed biological differences between whites and blacks. For example, in Types of Mankind, Greeks and chimpanzees were depicted as true dichotomies, placing blacks in between the two. Considering the time period in which the novel was written and set, research like this would be cited as a credible source. Then, she compares Roxy to Tom, who scolds Roxy by teaching her "her place" since "things, from a nigger,' were repugnant to him, and she had been warned to keep her distance and remember who she was." Dramatic Irony of this scene is Shakespearean in nature (compared to the Comedy of Errors) as the audience knows that Tom and Chambers were switched at birth As satirical as this scene is, it challenges “the changing state of race relations in America nineteenth century.” The audience must ask themselves what it means to have a tiny drop of “black blood” in their bodies and how this qualifies a person as black or not – even as unaware as Tom is. This “controversial question of race” is further complicated as the idea of ​​nature versus nurture is brought up by Roxy as she informs Tom that his "cowardice comes from his Negro blood", which is what made him refuse the duel. This statement reiterates Roxy's internalized racism, which not only did he cause Tom's miserable fate, but he continued to reinforce racism by claiming that his drop of black blood contributed to his gambling and violent behavior towards Judge Driscoll. As demonstrated by this interaction, Roxy revealed the truth about Tom's genealogy only because it was relevant to the conversation. Citing a previous research article of mine, racism is not hereditary, but rather is learned from people who impose such ideas - or, in other words. words, he is nourished. This dangerous cycle of exploitation andprejudice becomes inevitable due to groupthink behavior. Even Charles Darwin's theories, including Social Darwinism, were harmful because they allowed people to cite blacks as inferior beings in pursuit of "survival of the fittest." These harmful ideologies combined allowed whites to seek validation for the way they treated African Americans, so much so that the ideology spread to them - hence Roxy's reasoning for Tom's irrational behavior. Therefore, Tom's tirade ends when he learns of "his slave mother's racial ideology." This pushes him to “think differently” as he asks “why were Negroes and whites created and what crime did the first uncreated Negro commit for whom the curse of birth was decreed?” and “why is this terrible difference made between black and white?”. He also recognizes “how harsh the fate of the Negro seems to him this morning” compared to “last night because such a thought never crossed his mind,” emphasizing that a change in social position leads to a different, more understanding mentality. However for Tom, being black is worse than death as he says to himself, “A nigger! I'm a nigger! Oh, I wish I were dead!". The relevance of race was also raised by Wilson, as he assumed that "the drop of black blood in Roxy was superstitious because she thought there was some devilry, some witchy business about her glass mystery somewhere. … it could have been an accident, but he doubted it.” Wilson's thoughts demonstrated the idea that people are racist when they learn of a person's race. Otherwise, Roxy and Tom seemed as white as the other white characters "since they were as white as anyone else, but one-sixteenth of Roxy being black surpassed the other fifteen parts and made her a negro", qualifying her. as “a slave and also salable as such”. The information about their drop of black blood led people to think differently, which, once again, was a point reiterated by Roxy herself. As a result, Tom's behavior adapted accordingly to his new breed. For example, if Tom “met a friend…his arm hung limply, instead of involuntarily reaching out to shake” because “the 'nigger' in him asserted his humility, and he blushed and felt ashamed.” The awareness and expectations of being black manifested themselves in Tom, subjecting him to the double consciousness described by Du Bois. Therefore, he does not “act black” because he is black, but because that is what society expects of him as a person of black blood. If the characters were to understand this, then "paradoxically, the recognition of racism in their society could have been taken as a sign of commitment", but it is never outwardly addressed. However, out of the cast of characters in Pudd'nhead Wilson, "Chambers" received the worst fate as he was rejected by both whites and blacks as he could not perform his "duties" as a white person nor could he perform or engage in the work of blacks enslaved. The end of the novel sums up Chambers as “rich and free, but in the most embarrassing situation”: “His gait, his attitudes, his gestures, his bearing, his laugh – were all vulgar and uncouth; his manners were those of a slave. Money and fine clothes could not repair or cover these defects; they just made them more conspicuous and pathetic. The poor fellow could not bear the terror of the white man's living room, and felt at home and at peace only in the kitchen. The family stall was a misery for him, yet he would never again be able to enter the comforting refuge of the “nigger gallery” – which was closed to him forever.” Chambers won't have one of his own.