Pudd’nhead Wilson · Chapter
XVIII: Roxana Commands explained
Roxana, having escaped from being sold down the river, confronts Tom Driscoll in his lodgings during a rainy night.
What happens
Roxana, having escaped from being sold down the river, confronts Tom Driscoll in his lodgings during a rainy night. She reveals her harrowing experiences and forces Tom to confess his betrayal. She commands him to use his savings and borrow money from Judge Driscoll to buy her freedom, threatening to expose his true identity if he refuses.
Themes in this chapter
Motherhood and Sacrifice
Roxana's maternal authority is inverted as she commands her son to redeem her from slavery, highlighting the tragic consequences of her earlier sacrifice.
Deception and Appearance
Tom's lies about the reward bill and his attempts to conceal his betrayal underscore the theme of deception, while Roxana's disguise as a black man reflects the theme of appearance versus reality.
Justice and Injustice
Roxana's demand for Tom to buy her freedom exposes the deep injustice of slavery and the moral corruption of those who benefit from it.
Characters to notice
- Roxana
Returns to confront Tom after escaping from slavery; she is worn, starved, and desperate, but commands Tom to buy her freedom.
- Tom Driscoll
Terrified and cornered by Roxana's return; he is forced to admit his betrayal and agrees to her demands under threat of exposure.
Key passages
“Sell a pusson down de river— down the river! —for de bes’! I wouldn’t treat a dog so!”
Selling a person down the river for what you call the best! I wouldn't treat a dog that way!
Roxana expresses her deep hurt and anger at Tom's betrayal, emphasizing the inhumanity of his actions.
“You could be Judas to yo’ own mother to save yo’ wuthless hide! Would anybody b’lieve it? No—a dog couldn’t!”
You would betray your own mother like Judas to save your worthless skin! Would anyone believe it? No, not even a dog would!
Roxana accuses Tom of ultimate treachery, comparing him to Judas Iscariot.
“You’ll tell him you’s sole me to pay yo’ gamblin’ debts en dat you lied to me en was a villain, en dat I ’quires you to git dat money en buy me back ag’in.”
You will tell him you sold me to pay your gambling debts, that you lied to me and were a villain, and that I require you to get that money and buy me back again.
Roxana dictates the confession Tom must make to Judge Driscoll to secure the funds for her freedom.