Tom vs the Pudd'nhead

Though we have already discussed this topic in class, I would like to point out a key conflict in the book- a conflict that eventually leads to an ironic resolution. Throughout the novel, I believe that “Tom” is one of Pudd’nhead Wilson’s chief antagonists. As one examines the interactions between Wilson and Tom, one recognizes that Tom is essentially the only major character who continually makes fun of Wilson in the presence of guests, indirectly criticizing Wilson’s fascination with fingerprints. For example, Tom visits Wilson and ridicules him of his palmistry, embarrassing Wilson and even causing great discomfort to the Italian twins. (50-59) As Tom, arguably the antagonist (bad guy) of the novel, even openly calls “Pudd’nhead” Wilson a fool, readers can recognize that it is only in Tom’s presence that Wilson feels “threatened” and must control his own emotions instead of bursting out in anger. (67) Thus, it is incredibly ironic that though Tom fears that his mother Roxanna will reveal “the secret” of his actual birth and though Tom does not even consider Wilson a “threat” to the secret of his “blackness,” it is Wilson and not Roxanna who eventually exposes Tom. Additionally, Tom mocks Wilson during the scene with the Italian twins, embarrassing Wilson by telling the twins how Wilson aspired to be a lawyer but never had a case. Readers eventually discover that Wilson does end up becoming the lawyer that prosecutes Tom with the very type of “forensic science” that Tom had ridiculed- the science of fingerprints.