The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson

The novel “Pudd’nhead Wilson” by Mark Twain offers a scathing critique of American society in the pre-Civil War era, through a twisted story that addresses issues of race, identity, and discrimination. The events revolve around two children who are switched at birth: one is raised as a wealthy white master, and the other as a black slave, revealing the consequences of this disastrous exchange on their lives. The protagonist of the story, the lawyer David Wilson, nicknamed “Pudd’nhead” because of his social naivete, seeks to uncover the truth about a mysterious murder using techniques unfamiliar to his era, such as fingerprints. Twain satirizes racism and social hypocrisy, showing how appearances and social classes can destroy the lives of the innocent. The novel combines philosophical suspense and mystery, with a deep focus on the conflict between moral justice and unjust laws.