Abstract

Puddn’head Wilson is a work by American classical writer Mark Twain about race relations. By setting up the changing plot and replacing the growing environment of the white and the black, Mark Twain skillfully carried out a textual race experiment. At the end of the novel, the awkward ending of the white young Tom, the assertion that "everything is bred and decided" by Wilson in the story all shows the author's query and ridicule on the popular pedigree theory at that time.

In the American society in which racial ideas and biological interpretations prevailed in the nineteenth Century, Mark Twin's racial views expressed in his novels were quite groundbreaking.

Key words: Pudd’nhead Wilson; Mark Twain; Race

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1 Introduction-2

2 Literature review-2

3 The theme of race-3

3.1 The conflict of the story--baby-switching-3

3.2 The climax of the conflict--at the courthouse-3

4 Reflections on race-4

4.1“Training is everything”--racial concepts in the novel-4

4.2 Mark Twain’s views on race-6

4.3 Racism and Tom’s tragedy-7

5 Race and blood purity-8

5.1 The emphasis on descent-8

5.2 The importance of the descent line-9

5.3 Roxy and Tom’s attitudes towards their descent line-10

6 Conclusion-11

References-12