The ending (literally) of Pudd'nhead Wilson

Pudd'nhead Wilson ends with the following lines, "Everybody granted that if "Tom" were white and free it would be unquestionably right to punish him-it would be no loss to anybody; but to shut up a valuable slave for life-it was quite another matter. As soon as the Governor understood the case, he pardoned Tom at once, and the creditors sold him down the river" (122).

This statement sums up a lot of the issues and themes that Twain addresses in this novel. First, it mentions the concept of race and blood. Twain seems to hint that differences exist between the races that are very important: "It's de nigger in you, dat's what it is. Thirty-one parts o' you is white, en on'y one part nigger, en dat po' little one part is yo' soul" (75). The previous statement claims that Tom being 1/32 parts black is what makes him the unlikeable, immoral, and evil character that he is. Seemingly, black people are seen as less superior then whites in this novel and during the time period in general.

In the statement that ends the novel, Tom is exempt from the law because he is black. If he was white, he would have been put in jail, but because he is black and can be used for labor, he is simply sold as a slave. Not only does this fact point to the low regard for the law, which is also found in the way Southern aristocrats can break the law out of honor, but also suggests a way in which the blacks were treated differently then whites.

Finally, the passage mentions Tom being sold "down the river." This phrase is found throughout the novel and is important. It is ironic that Tom is sold down the river because the whole reason that Roxy switched the twins at birth was to avoid this sale from ever happening. Being sold down the river is equivalent with being sent to hell it seems. This comparison occurs when the narrator states, "the culprits flung themselves prone, in an ecstasy of gratitude, and kissed his feet, declaring that they would never forget his goodness and never cease to pray for him as long as they lived. They were sincere, for like a god he had stretched forth his might hand and close the gates of hell against them" (10). The previous passage refers to Percy Driscoll being merciful by not selling his slaves who stole from him down the river. Also, Tom sells Roxy down the river, and she describes how badly she was treated. Twain seems to make the statement that the deeper south was even worse for slaves, where racial prejudices were even greater.

Clearly, the final lines of this book are appropriate as they mention many of themes in the novel.