Why does Mark Twain use dialect when Wheeler tells the story? The use of dialect makes it harder to understand, so readers have to pay more attention to the progress of the story. The use of dialect underscores the exaggerated qualities of the characters and separates the narrator from the story. The use of dialect makes the characters seem more intelligent, so readers take them and the story’s message more seriously. The use of dialect makes the characters more realistic, adding a serious element to an otherwise humorous story.