Race, Gender, and Disguise in “Pudd’nhead Wilson”

Introduction

Conveys race as a concept in Pudd’nhead Wilson, written by Linda A. Morris. She wrote an essay titled “Beneath the Veil: Clothing, Race, and Gender in Pudd’nhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins.” Morris’s essay examines the cultural standings in the novel by addressing the fact that people who were different in skin color, attire, and beliefs treated others differently.

The Disguise of Gender and its Parallel to Race

A quote I found intriguing in the essay was, “The gender disguise is as hard to read as the racial disguise, and both reinforce the deconstructing of the other.

” Morris believes in this argument that the character of Tom was in full belief for most of the time that he was “white,” not “black.” More of that later in this paragraph. Although, it also shows that a person’s gender could be misconstrued as inconsequential to others. Just because Roxy was whiter than she was black in terms of skin color, she had just a “little bit” of black in her, which was used to assess her true self. Everyone made her think, talk and act like a black woman, not a white one, even though she looked it. All just because of what type of clothing she wore. If she had worn a richer type of clothing, like a white person, even if she talked a bit more like a black person, they would still have accepted her just because of her sign of wealth (the clothing). This obviously brings me to my next point. The racial disguise. Tom looked “white” but was actually black, so he was accepted. Roxy looked “black” but was actually more white. What does this mean? It means that the racial differences in Pudd’nhead Wilson tell the tale of how different people treat others just by the way they look. Tom mistreated many people, including his own mother, Roxy, because he thought just because he was white, he could say and do whatever he pleased. However, the tables turned on him when he found out that he was actually a black person. Almost immediately, his attitude changed drastically around everyone. He spoke more humbly and listened to what everyone had to say, regardless of race or gender(although he still lashed out at times and spoke down to people, this was done out of pure hate and anger towards himself). He didn’t speak much to Judge Driscoll for fear that he would find out the truth. He hated and loathed himself because he now knew he was black. As in the above quote in a previous paragraph, Tom questions the entire black vs white debate. Why is one more superior, and the other isn’t (or so he thinks), or why was he cursed to be black and not white as he originally thought? Questioning his own motives and even God.

Conclusion

Both deconstruct the other. If a white person who is actually black wears a certain type of clothing, he will still be seen as a white person. Just because of wealthy clothing. The same is true of the opposite. If a white person dresses in a black manner, then they are classified as black, even if they are white. Tom performed those duties asked of him by Roxy. He didn’t like doing it because he thought it was degrading and below him, but it was for his own survival and benefits.

References

1. Morris, Linda A. "Beneath the Veil: Clothing, Race, and Gender in Pudd’nhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins." In Title of the Book or Journal, Edited by Editor's Name, Page Numbers. Publisher, Year.

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