How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
But for an unfortunate remark of his, [Pudd'nhead] would no doubt have entered at once upon a successful career at Dawson's Landing. But he made his fatal remark the first day he spent in the village, and it "gaged" him. (1.14)
Forget that saying "you are what you eat." In Dawson's Landing, you are whatever "unfortunate remark" you happen to blurt out. Pudd'nhead's situation goes to show just how important a factor language can be in making or breaking a first impression.
Quote #2
"Said he wished he owned half of the dog, the idiot," said a third [person]. "What did he reckon would become of the other half if he killed his half? Do you reckon he thought it would live?" (1.21)
"Perfect jackass—yes, and it ain't going too far to say he is a pudd'nhead. If he ain't a pudd'nhead, I ain't no judge, that's all." (1.29)
We can't help but think Twain is having some fun here by showing that these self-appointed judges of Pudd'nhead's intelligence would themselves likely be flunking out of high school English.
Quote #3
Mr. Wilson stood elected. The incident was told all over the town, and gravely discussed by everybody. Within a week he had lost his first name; Pudd'nhead took its place. (1.30)
Meanies. These townspeople seem a lot more like bullies on a playground than credible judges of other people's characters.
Quote #4
That first day's verdict made him a fool, and [Pudd'nhead] was not able to get it set aside, or even modified. The nickname soon ceased to carry any harsh or unfriendly feeling with it, but it held its place, and was to continue to hold its place for twenty long years. (1.30)
Hmm, if the name Pudd'nhead eventually loses its harsh and unfriendly feeling, is there any harm in continuing to use it as a nickname?
Quote #5
[. . .] the Judge thought that these quips and fancies of Wilson's [almanac] were neatly turned and cute; so he carried a handful of them around one day, and read them to some of the chief citizens. But irony was not for those people; their mental vision was not focused for it. (5.6)
Burn. The chief citizens of Dawson's Landing may be Pudd'nhead's harshest critics, but our narrator never misses an opportunity to subtly remind us that they're not exactly qualified to judge the mental capacities of others.
Quote #6
[The townspeople] read those playful trifles in the solidest earnest, and decided without hesitancy that if there had ever been any doubt that Dave Wilson was a pudd'nhead—which there hadn't—this revelation removed that doubt for good and all. (5.6)
Sure, playfulness can be associated with foolishness. But taking everything in "solidest earnest" or with dead seriousness, the novel suggests, can be a foolish move.
Quote #7
Judge Driscoll could be a free-thinker and still hold his place in society, because he was the person of most consequence in the community, and therefore could venture to go his own way and follow out his own notions. The other member of his pet organization was allowed the like liberty because he was a cipher in the estimation of the public, and nobody attached any importance to what he thought or did. (5.7)
So maybe being labeled the town fool isn't the worst thing that could happen to a person after all. Far from limiting his potential, the public's dim view of Pudd'nhead's intelligence grants him a ton of freedom to think and act in whatever ways he wants.
Quote #8
Wilson took up several of his strips of glass. When the audience recognized these familiar mementoes of Pudd'nhead's old-time childish "puttering" and folly, the tense and funeral interest vanished out of their faces, and the house burst into volleys of relieving and refreshing laughter, and Tom chirked and joined in the fun himself; but Wilson was apparently not disturbed. (21.13)
Well, we know who's going to get the last laugh here. And perhaps Pudd'nhead's most genius move of all is his refusal let his confidence be shaken.
Quote #9
Troop after troop of citizens came to serenade Wilson, and require a speech, and shout themselves hoarse over every sentence that fell from his lips—for all his sentences were golden, now, all were marvelous. (Conclusion.1)
Not to rain on the Pudd'nhead Parade or anything, but is Wilson's victory in winning these people over really that sweet given what poor judges of character they've proven to be?
Quote #10
[Pudd'nhead's] long fight against hard luck and prejudice was ended; he was a made man for good. (Conclusion.1)
"And this is the man the likes of us have called a pudd'nhead for more than twenty years. He has resigned from that position, friends." "Yes, but it isn't vacant—we're elected." (Conclusion.1)
Aww, don't you just love it when everybody wins in the end? Pudd'nhead becomes a rock star and even the townspeople gain some self-awareness in realizing that they're most deserving of the pudd'nhead title.