Pudd’nhead Wilson · Chapter
XI: Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery explained
The twins visit Pudd'nhead Wilson, who shares his Calendar.
What happens
The twins visit Pudd'nhead Wilson, who shares his Calendar. Tom Driscoll joins them, taunting Wilson about his lack of legal cases. Wilson demonstrates his fingerprint collection, and the conversation turns to a murder Luigi committed to save Angelo. Tom reacts defensively when Wilson tries to examine his palm. Later, the twins are invited to a rum party meeting, where Angelo's teetotalism causes a stir.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Tom pretends to see the twins for the first time, hiding his earlier burglary. Wilson's fingerprint method reveals hidden truths beneath surface appearances.
Justice and Injustice
Luigi's killing is debated as either murder or a noble act of self-preservation, reflecting ambiguous justice.
Characters to notice
- Pudd'nhead Wilson
Hosts the twins, shares his Calendar, and demonstrates his fingerprint collection. He is taunted by Tom but remains composed.
- Tom Driscoll
Joins the party, mocks Wilson, and reacts defensively when Wilson tries to examine his palm. He later accompanies the twins to the rum meeting.
- Count Luigi
One of the twins; describes killing a man to save Angelo. He accepts the rum party invitation and drinks whisky.
- Count Angelo Capello
The other twin; teetotaler who declines the drink at the rum meeting, causing a stir. He defends Luigi's killing as noble.
- John Buckstone
Irish politician who invites the twins to the rum party mass-meeting.
Key passages
“There are three infallible ways of pleasing an author, and the three form a rising scale of compliment: 1, to tell him you have read one of his books; 2, to tell him you have read all of his books; 3, to ask him to let you read the manuscript of his forthcoming book.”
The best way to flatter an author is to ask to read his unpublished work.
Wilson's Calendar aphorism sets the tone for the twins' flattery of Wilson.
“I killed the man for good reasons, and I don't regret it.”
Luigi admits to killing a man but justifies it as necessary.
Luigi's confession during the discussion of his knife.