# Tom Driscoll — Pudd’nhead Wilson character guide > Tom Driscoll in Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Marse Driscoll, Marse Tom Driscoll, young Tom Driscoll, Young Tom Driscoll, Thomas à Becket Driscoll, Thomas à Becket, Tommy **First appearance:** 0001-pudd-nhead-wilson ## Snapshot A coddled heir whose gambling debts and borrowed manners hide a secret that could unmake him in Dawson's Landing. ## Who they are Tom returns from college to his uncle's household as the presumed Driscoll heir, expecting indulgence and finding his aunt's and the Judge's hopes pinned on his reform. He craves money, status, and the freedom to spend both without consequence, and his charm curdles fast when denied. His letters home are flattering fictions, and Wilson's private wink at Mrs. Pratt's praise signals how much of Tom's respectability is performance. ## Relationships ### [Roxana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/roxana) _family_ 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/puddnhead_wilson) _rivalry_ Wilson is a clever amateur detective who becomes Tom's antagonist, ultimately exposing Tom's true identity and crimes. ### [Chambers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/chambers) _rivalry_ Chambers, raised as a slave while Tom lived as his master, harbors deep resentment and a sense of stolen identity toward Tom. ### [Judge Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/judge_driscoll) _family_ Judge Driscoll is Tom's uncle and guardian, but he is often disappointed by Tom's dissolute behavior. ### [Constable Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/constable_blake) _professional_ Constable Blake investigates Tom's criminal activities, viewing him as a suspect and troublemaker. ### [Pembroke Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/pembroke_howard) _social_ Pembroke Howard is a family friend of the Driscolls who views Tom with growing suspicion and disdain. ### [Pudd'nhead Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/puddnhead_wilson) _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) _family_ 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/puddnhead_wilson) _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) _family_ 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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/chambers) _rivalry_ Chambers, raised as a slave while Tom lived as his master, harbors deep resentment and a sense of stolen identity toward Tom. ### [Constable Blake](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/constable_blake) _professional_ Constable Blake investigates Tom's criminal activities, viewing him as a suspect and troublemaker. ## In the story ### [Pudd'nhead Wilson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/pudd-nhead-wilson) Born as the white heir to the Driscoll estate, but is actually the son of Roxana after the switch; raised as a privileged white boy. ### [III: Roxy Plays a Shrewd Trick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/iii-roxy-plays-a-shrewd-trick) The true heir, who is stripped of his fine clothes and placed in the humble cradle, now to be raised as a slave. ### [IV: The Ways of the Changelings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/iv-the-ways-of-the-changelings) Tom is the usurping heir, a 'bad baby' from the start. He is indulged, sickly, and cruel to Chambers, using him as a proxy for theft and as a bodyguard. He is left a pauper after his father's estate collapses but is comforted by his uncle's promise of inheritance. ### [The Twins Thrill Dawson's Landing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/v-the-twins-thrill-dawson-s-landing) Returns from Yale with improved manners, but also brings habits of tippling and gambling, and struggles to fit in with the local youth. ### [VII: The Unknown Nymph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/vii-the-unknown-nymph) His bedroom is the setting for the mysterious young woman's appearance; he is expected home soon. ### [VIII: Marse Tom Tramples His Chance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/viii-marse-tom-tramples-his-chance) Lazy and cruel; beats Chambers for delivering Roxy's message and refuses to give Roxy any money, dismissing her callously. ### [IX: Tom Practises Sycophancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/ix-tom-practises-sycophancy) Tom is confronted by Roxy, who reveals he is her son and a slave. He is forced to call her 'ma' and agrees to give her half his pension. ### [X: The Nymph Revealed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/x-the-nymph-revealed) Tom is in deep psychological turmoil after learning he is black, experiencing shame, self-hatred, and a 'hunted sense.' He continues his life of crime, disguising himself as a woman to commit thefts, and avoids his family. ### [XI: Pudd'nhead's Startling Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xi-pudd-nhead-s-startling-discovery) Joins the party, mocks Wilson, and reacts defensively when Wilson tries to examine his palm. He later accompanies the twins to the rum meeting. ### [The Shame of Judge Driscoll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xii-the-shame-of-judge-driscoll) Confesses to taking Count Luigi to court instead of challenging him, is disinherited, and resolves to reform his ways. ### [Tom Stares at Ruin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xiii-tom-stares-at-ruin) Despondent and facing ruin after Judge Driscoll tears up his will; secretly the thief of the stolen items, including Count Luigi's dagger. ### [XIV: Roxana Insists Upon Reform](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xiv-roxana-insists-upon-reform) Secretly reads the rewritten will, resolves to reform, but despairs over his inability to sell the Indian knife; later visits Roxy and is berated for his cowardice. ### [XV: The Robber Robbed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xv-the-robber-robbed) Tom taunts Blake and Wilson about the unsolved robbery, plants doubt about the twins' knife, and later lies to Judge Driscoll about Luigi being an assassin. ### [XVI: Sold Down the River](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xvi-sold-down-the-river) Tom forges a bill of sale and sells his mother Roxana into slavery to pay his gambling debts, rationalizing his treachery. ### [The Judge Utters Dire Prophecy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xvii-the-judge-utters-dire-prophecy) Works against the twins with his uncle; trusted with money and access to the safe; returns to St. Louis after the election. ### [XVIII: Roxana Commands](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xviii-roxana-commands) Terrified and cornered by Roxana's return; he is forced to admit his betrayal and agrees to her demands under threat of exposure. ### [XIX: The Prophecy Realized](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xix-the-prophecy-realized) Flees after murdering Judge Driscoll, disposes of evidence, reads the telegram blaming the twins, and returns home to play the grieving nephew. ### [The Murderer Chuckles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xx-the-murderer-chuckles) Visits Wilson to gloat and mock him; inadvertently shows Wilson a fingerprint strip with Roxy's thumbprint, revealing a line that shocks Wilson. ### [Doom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/xxi-doom) Exposed as the murderer and the true slave; collapses in confession. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/chapters/conclusion) Confesses to murder, sentenced to life, but pardoned and sold down the river as a slave. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters/tom_driscoll - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pudd_nhead_wilson_se/characters