# Pudd'nhead Wilson — Pudd’nhead Wilson character guide > Pudd'nhead Wilson in Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain. **Role:** major **Also known as:** David Wilson, Mr. David Wilson, young Wilson, Mr. Wilson, Dave Wilson, Dave, Misto Wilson **First appearance:** 0001-pudd-nhead-wilson ## Snapshot A wry, patient newcomer branded a fool by the town for one ill-timed joke, quietly collecting fingerprints while others collect opinions. ## Who they are Wilson arrives in Dawson's Landing as a young lawyer and is promptly ruined socially by a remark the town misreads as idiocy. He keeps his humor, his calendar of aphorisms, and his hobby of fingerprinting, befriending the Italian twins when no one else will. His patient observation and unfashionable science make him the one man in town who might eventually read the truth others cannot see. ## Relationships ### [Tom Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/tom_driscoll) _rivalry_ Wilson is a clever amateur detective who becomes Tom's antagonist, ultimately exposing Tom's true identity and crimes. ### [Roxana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/roxana) _social_ Wilson and Roxana have a distant acquaintance; Wilson is aware of her secret but does not actively engage with her. ### [Judge Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/judge_driscoll) _friendship_ Judge Driscoll is one of the few townspeople who respects Wilson's intellect and supports him socially. ### [Constable Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/constable_blake) _professional_ Constable Blake works with Wilson as a law enforcement officer, respecting Wilson's detective skills. ### [John Buckstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/john_buckstone) _professional_ John Buckstone is a local lawyer who occasionally collaborates with Wilson on legal matters. ### [Tom Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/tom_driscoll) _rivalry_ Wilson is a clever amateur detective who becomes Tom's antagonist, ultimately exposing Tom's true identity and crimes. ### [Tom Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/tom_driscoll) _rivalry_ Wilson is a clever amateur detective who becomes Tom's antagonist, ultimately exposing Tom's true identity and crimes. ### [Judge Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/judge_driscoll) _friendship_ Judge Driscoll is one of the few townspeople who respects Wilson's intellect and supports him socially. ### [John Buckstone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/john_buckstone) _professional_ John Buckstone is a local lawyer who occasionally collaborates with Wilson on legal matters. ### [Constable Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/constable_blake) _professional_ Constable Blake works with Wilson as a law enforcement officer, respecting Wilson's detective skills. ### [Roxana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/roxana) _social_ Wilson and Roxana have a distant acquaintance; Wilson is aware of her secret but does not actively engage with her. ### [Constable Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/constable_blake) _professional_ Constable Blake works with Wilson as a law enforcement officer, respecting Wilson's detective skills. ## In the story ### [A Whisper to the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/a-whisper-to-the-reader) Referenced via his Calendar entry at the start of the chapter. ### [Pudd'nhead Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/pudd-nhead-wilson) Introduced as a young lawyer from New York who settles in Dawson's Landing; his ironic remark about a dog earns him the nickname 'Pudd'nhead.' ### [I: Pudd'nhead Wins His Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/i-pudd-nhead-wins-his-name) Introduced as Mr. David Wilson, a young lawyer from New York who earns the nickname 'Pudd'nhead' after a misunderstood remark about a dog. ### [II: Driscoll Spares His Slaves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/ii-driscoll-spares-his-slaves) Continues his fingerprint collection and studies them obsessively; overhears Roxy and Jasper's conversation. ### [III: Roxy Plays a Shrewd Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/iii-roxy-plays-a-shrewd-trick) Takes the fingerprints of the babies, but fails to notice the switch, much to Roxy's relief. ### [IV: The Ways of the Changelings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/iv-the-ways-of-the-changelings) Wilson chats with Roxy and Jasper, offering to copy the boys' fingerprints. He suspects Roxy's superstition about his 'glass mystery' when she declines. ### [The Twins Thrill Dawson's Landing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/v-the-twins-thrill-dawson-s-landing) Continues to work on his whimsical almanac, which is misunderstood by the townspeople, reinforcing his reputation as a 'pudd'nhead'. ### [VII: The Unknown Nymph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/vii-the-unknown-nymph) Observes a mysterious young woman in Tom Driscoll's room and later hosts the twins, gaining their friendship. ### [X: The Nymph Revealed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/x-the-nymph-revealed) Wilson observes Tom in disguise from his window, puzzling over the 'strange apparition' of a girl in Tom's bedroom. He remains suspicious and continues to investigate. ### [XI: Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xi-pudd-nhead-s-startling-discovery) Hosts the twins, shares his Calendar, and demonstrates his fingerprint collection. He is taunted by Tom but remains composed. ### [The Shame of Judge Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xii-the-shame-of-judge-driscoll) Mentioned as having defended Count Luigi in court and lost his first case. ### [Tom Stares at Ruin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xiii-tom-stares-at-ruin) Offers Tom counsel, deduces the thefts are connected, and reveals a plan to recover the dagger; accepts the Democratic party's nomination for mayor. ### [XIV: Roxana Insists Upon Reform](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xiv-roxana-insists-upon-reform) Serves as Count Luigi's second in the duel. ### [XV: The Robber Robbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xv-the-robber-robbed) Wilson is now a respected lawyer and mayoral candidate, but is unsettled by Tom's insinuations that his reward scheme failed and that the twins may have deceived him. ### [The Judge Utters Dire Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xvii-the-judge-utters-dire-prophecy) Elected in the campaign; parries questions about the Judge's remark. ### [XIX: The Prophecy Realized](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xix-the-prophecy-realized) Takes charge of the crime scene, examines fingerprints on the knife, deduces the twins are innocent, and reflects on Judge Driscoll's infatuation with Tom. ### [The Murderer Chuckles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xx-the-murderer-chuckles) Defense counsel for the twins; struggles with the lack of evidence and is stunned when he discovers a crucial fingerprint clue on a glass strip. ### [Doom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xxi-doom) Delivers the climactic fingerprint evidence, revealing the switched identities and Tom's guilt. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/conclusion) Celebrated by the town, his long fight against prejudice ends; he becomes a made man. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/puddnhead_wilson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters