What does “Tom’s” internal dialogue reveal? Chapter 11—Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain

As a result of Roxy's revelation that he was born a slave, Tom's worldview is utterly transformed. For the very first time in his life, Tom sees blacks as human beings rather than as mere property or animals. He even bemoans the arbitrariness of society's distinction between races. In addition to sympathizing with the plight of Southern blacks, Tom starts acting as though he was raised a slave and subordinated for his whole life. He yields the road to whites and is uncomfortable dining with them, as he no longer sees himself as their equal. This is perhaps the novel's strongest support for the nature over nurture theory. It appears that Tom's true nature - that of a slave - has emerged. Despite having been raised a wealthy white man and afforded all of life's luxuries, Tom suddenly finds himself acting as though he is at the bottom of the social ladder. His yielding to whites suggests that the oppression his black ancestors suffered for centuries has manifested itself within him.