The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson Summary

A stranger from the North, aspiring to be a lawyer, arrives in the small town of Dawson's Landing, Missouri. However, not being able to comprehend his sense of humor, the local people brand him as "Pudd'nhead" and deny him their legal work. He manages to survive by doing odd jobs while spending most of his time engaging in scientific experiments, particularly on fingerprints.

Roxy, a stunning slave who could be mistaken for a white woman, exchanges her infant son with her master's identical-looking child, who was born the same day, to protect her son from being sold. Her son, Chambers, now referred to as "Tom", grows up as a privileged white man and is set to inherit an estate. On the other hand, her master's child, known as Chambers, grows up as a slave. "Tom" grows up to be a heartless, cowardly man whose gambling debts eventually drive him to rob houses, put Roxy, who is now free, back into slavery, and ultimately kill his uncle, Judge Driscoll, in a failed theft attempt.

Luigi and Angelo, one-time sideshow artists, are attractive and charismatic, claiming to be Italian twins and the sons of a dethroned nobleman. They arrive in Dawson's Landing, looking for a peaceful life away from the world's hustle and rent a room in Widow Cooper's house. Luigi had once killed a man who tried stealing an invaluable Indian knife from them. This knife is stolen by "Tom" and used to murder Judge Driscoll. The twins initially gain popularity among the townsfolk, but lose it due to a dispute with "Tom." Following a city election where "Pudd'nhead" is declared mayor, "Tom," desperate for money, murders the Judge using the twins' knife. When his true identity is revealed by "Pudd'nhead" and his scientific evidence during a murder trial, "Tom" is sold to pay off his debts while the twins leave for Europe and "Pudd'nhead" is seen successful, but left without any old friends around to share his triumph.