In
Twain’s book, Pudd’nhead Wilson, he
uses doubling to create an ironic situation in which two baby boys of different
“races” are switched. Roxy describes the similar appearance of the children to
Pudd’nhead Wilson when she says, “’Oh, I kin tell ‘em ‘part, Misto Wilson, but
I bet Marse Percy couldn’t, not to save his life’” (Twain 65). The humor comes
from the irony in that both boys are identical, but one is a black slave and
the other is a wealthy slave owner.
In
the real world, as in Twain’s book, people are not of pure heritage, and the
idea of race by percentages is fairly absurd. I have had my own DNA analyzed,
and it shows a breakdown of my own ancestry. Here is a screen shot of those
results.
As
you can see, I am in no way a “pure” descendent of any particular ancestry.
This is the type of message Twain is trying to get across with Tom and Chambers
in his book. The idea that someone can be of “pure” lineage is illogical, and
as we see most people are mixes of various races.
The
link above is for an episode of the show Archer in which the pope happens to be
identical in appearance to Archer’s butler. The butler, Woodhouse, is switched
with the pope, but later people can’t tell who is who. I thought this was a funny
modern example of doubling, similar to how Tom and Chambers couldn’t be told
apart in Pudd’nhead Wilson.
Sources:
"Otto Herrmann's Ancestry
Composition from 23andMe." Otto Herrmann's Ancestry Composition. 23andme. Web. 16 May 2014.
Reed, Adam, prod. Archer. Animetoon. Web. 16
May 2014.
Twain, Mark. Pudd'nhead Wilson. New York City:
Penguin Classics, 1986. Print.
Otto- I liked your post! I found it interesting how you drew upon your own mixed ancestry to make a point. I think it is important to point out that there were a number of different times when Twain utilized doubling throughout the book but for different reasons. What did you think about the other instances of doubling? Did you think the other instances of doubling were meant to make the same point as was made in switching the two boys? Just a few things to think about!
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, I really loved the example of your own mixed genealogy to emphasize the point that most if not all people are not of a "pure" race/family line and in that lies great irony in how the fate of the two boys are determined. Also going off of Amber's questions - I think Twain's use of doubling is so skillful because not only does it raise awareness to the irony of the Tom and Chamber's circumstances but it also applies a bit differently to the two twins, Luigi and Angelo. As they are the literal example of doubling - their roles takes on a different interpretation of Twain's use of duality. Whereas Tom and Chambers share no blood relation to explain their similarities, Angelo and Luigi are "true" doubles because of their family ties. I think in this light, Twain is trying to raise the question of identity - and how that is given/distinguished/determined by each individual and the environment they are raised in.
ReplyDeleteOtto, this chart is amazing. Is it something we can all access and create? I'm sure the class would like to hear about it and learn more. That said, I encourage you to bring the insight it offers back to Twain's text. Do you see his story affirming or refuting what this chart says about race, and why? Can you go back and closely read some examples to explore this question.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, your partners raise some terrific questions here that direct the conversation back to Twain's novel. I encourage you to take up their ideas and engage with their blog entries as well.