# XIV: Roxana Insists Upon Reform explained — Pudd’nhead Wilson

> Chapter companion for Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain.

## What happens

Judge Driscoll prepares for a duel with Count Luigi, rewriting his will to restore Tom's inheritance. Tom secretly reads the will and resolves to reform, but his joy collapses when he remembers he cannot sell the Indian knife. He visits Roxy, who reveals she was grazed by a bullet from the duel and berates him for his cowardice, attributing it to his 'one part nigger' soul.

## Themes in this chapter

### Race and Slavery

Roxy attributes Tom's cowardice to his 'one part nigger' soul, reflecting the racial determinism and the one-drop rule of the era.

### Deception and Appearance

Tom secretly reads the will and hides his knowledge, while Judge Driscoll conceals the rewritten will from Tom.

### Justice and Injustice

Judge Driscoll's decision to restore Tom's inheritance despite Tom's unworthiness raises questions about justice and familial obligation.

## Character check-ins

### Judge Driscoll

Prepares for a duel with Count Luigi, rewrites his will to restore Tom's inheritance, and expresses regret for his indulgence of Tom.

### Tom Driscoll

Secretly reads the rewritten will, resolves to reform, but despairs over his inability to sell the Indian knife; later visits Roxy and is berated for his cowardice.

### Roxana

Reveals she was grazed by a bullet from the duel, berates Tom for refusing to fight, and attributes his cowardice to his 'one part nigger' soul.

### Pudd'nhead Wilson

Serves as Count Luigi's second in the duel.

### Count Luigi

Participates in the duel with Judge Driscoll.

### Pembroke Howard

Arranges the duel and witnesses Judge Driscoll's will.

### Chambers

Mistakenly called 'Chambers' by Roxy; Tom is present during her tirade.

## Key lines

> Thirty-one parts o’ you is white, en on’y one part nigger, en dat po’ little one part is yo’ soul.

Roxy tells Tom that he is 31/32 white and only 1/32 black, but that small fraction is his soul.

_Roxy uses racial arithmetic to condemn Tom's character._

> I’m reformed, and this time I’ll stay so, sure!

Tom declares to himself that he will change his ways permanently.

_Tom's resolution is short-lived as he soon despairs over the Indian knife._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xiv-roxana-insists-upon-reform
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters