English midterm

Adrienne Bond's article, Disorder and the sentimental model: a look at Pudd'nhead Wilson argues that in Twain's book, Puddn'head Wilson, he uses all the conventions of a “tragic octoroon” novel and also imitating the effusive style of a sentimental novel. Bond backs her claim by up by showing the specific instances form Pudd'nhead Wilson in which Twain uses the elements of a tragic octoroon. Furthermore Bond also points out the sentimental aspect of the novel which is inconsistent with Twain, in order to that it is deceptive and actually fits with his style of writing. In my opinion I agree with Bond's idea that Twain uses the conventions of a “tragic octoroon” novel and also the style of a sentimental novel.

Twain opens his novel with the element of sentimentalism.

In 1830 it was a snug little collection of modest one- and two-story frame dwellings, whose whitewashed exteriors were almost concealed from sight by climbing tangles of rose vines, honeysuckles, and morning glories. Each of these pretty homes had a garden in front fenced with white palings and opulently stocked with hollyhocks, marigolds, touch-me-nots, prince's feathers, and other old-fashioned flowers; while on the windowsills of the houses stood wooden boxes containing moss rose plants and terra-cotta pots… (Pudd'nhead Wilson, p. 21)This is a very descriptive rural setting and with most authors would only be sentimentalism.

But with Twain, he uses it to show a happy-go-lucky place and in this ignorance can be found. To Twain ignorant people are vulnerable and dangerous and that ignorance is not an excuse for bad behavior. Thus he is able to use the sentimental style but reverses it meaning to show the corruption in his characters.

A tragic octoroon novel is a novel that develops stereotyped characters such as: a pastoral setting, a protagonist who is legally black ...