Want to make an entire town go wild? Send them a pair of piano-playing Italian twins! Okay, that might only happen in the fictional world of Dawson's Landing. Before they ever even lay eyes on Luigi and Angelo, the characters of Pudd'nhead Wilson are totally fascinated with these two. And when the twins arrive, the townspeople are so awestruck by the duo that we readers might well be wondering what all the fuss is about. Just as puzzling is how quickly the tables begin to turn: it's not long before suspicion of these foreigners kicks in and public sentiment turns decidedly against them. Hmm, Americans sure are fickle.
Questions About Foreignness
- What does the arrival of the Italian twins reveal about the people of Dawson's Landing? Why is the town so enamored with these guys?
- As "outsiders," Luigi and Angelo observe the town and the people who live there from a very different vantage point than its residents. Surprisingly, though, we're not given much sense of their impressions. Why not?
- Why does public sentiment turn against the twins so easily after they're accused of killing Driscoll?
Chew on This
Luigi's conflict with Tom shows the weakness of Americans.
The portrayal of the twins in Pudd'nhead Wilson mocks Americans' love-hate relationship with foreigners.