Roxana

Tom Driscoll

Roxana is Tom's biological mother, but she secretly switched him at birth with Chambers, creating a complex bond of love, guilt, and manipulation.

Pudd'nhead Wilson

Wilson and Roxana have a distant acquaintance; Wilson is aware of her secret but does not actively engage with her.

Chambers

Chambers is Roxana's biological son, but she raised him as a slave while her other son lived as master, creating a painful, secret bond.

Mrs. Percy Driscoll

Mrs. Percy Driscoll was Roxana's mistress, treating her as a household slave before her death.

Tom Driscoll

Roxana is Tom's biological mother, but she secretly switched him at birth with Chambers, creating a complex bond of love, guilt, and manipulation.

Tom Driscoll

Roxana is Tom's biological mother, but she secretly switched him at birth with Chambers, creating a complex bond of love, guilt, and manipulation.

Chambers

Chambers is Roxana's biological son, but she raised him as a slave while her other son lived as master, creating a painful, secret bond.

Pudd'nhead Wilson

Wilson and Roxana have a distant acquaintance; Wilson is aware of her secret but does not actively engage with her.

Pudd'nhead Wilson

Wilson and Roxana have a distant acquaintance; Wilson is aware of her secret but does not actively engage with her.

Mrs. Percy Driscoll

Mrs. Percy Driscoll was Roxana's mistress, treating her as a household slave before her death.

Pudd'nhead Wilson

A slave woman who gives birth to a son on the same day as her master's wife; she later switches the babies to save her child from being sold down the river.

I: Pudd'nhead Wins His Name

A twenty-year-old slave girl who gives birth to a son on February 1, 1830, and is put in charge of both her baby and her master's newborn.

II: Driscoll Spares His Slaves

Deeply affected by the threat of being sold down the river; she had recently 'got religion' and resisted stealing money.

III: Roxy Plays a Shrewd Trick

Driven by maternal terror, she switches the babies to save her child from being sold down the river.

IV: The Ways of the Changelings

Roxy is freed by Percy Driscoll on his deathbed. She struggles with her feelings toward Tom, alternating between vengeful thoughts and doting love. She plans to leave Dawson's Landing to work as a chambermaid on a steamboat.

VIII: Marse Tom Tramples His Chance

Returns to Dawson's Landing after losing her savings and being disabled; seeks a reunion with Tom but is rebuffed and denied help.

IX: Tom Practises Sycophancy

Roxy reveals the truth to Tom, asserting her authority and demanding half his monthly pension. She also tells him his father was Colonel Cecil Burleigh Essex.

X: The Nymph Revealed

Roxy is Tom's mother and accomplice. She collects her half of his pension, visits him at the haunted house, and helps him with his disguises and thefts. She also brings him news of the town's social events.

XIV: Roxana Insists Upon Reform

Reveals she was grazed by a bullet from the duel, berates Tom for refusing to fight, and attributes his cowardice to his 'one part nigger' soul.

XV: The Robber Robbed

Roxana is mentioned as the person Tom consulted to guess Wilson's scheme; she correctly deduced the trap involving the knife reward.

XVI: Sold Down the River

Roxana voluntarily offers to be sold into slavery to save her son, but is betrayed and sold down the river, realizing her fate too late.

XVIII: Roxana Commands

Returns to confront Tom after escaping from slavery; she is worn, starved, and desperate, but commands Tom to buy her freedom.

XIX: The Prophecy Realized

Tom mails a new bill of sale selling her to herself, completing her legal freedom.

The Murderer Chuckles

Present in the courtroom, wearing good clothes and carrying her bill of sale; she is eager to see the twins hanged for Judge Driscoll's murder.

Doom

Falls to her knees in guilt and sorrow as the truth is revealed.

Conclusion

Heartbroken, her spirit quenched; she finds solace only in church.