[H] Johnny: Chapters 23-25

The relationship between Huck and Jim seems a little different in these three chapters as Jim begins to open up to Huck, while Huck continues to hid information from Jim. Jim tells Huck a story he is ashamed of as a way to express himself to somebody he confides in. Is Huck really that friendly figure as he does not even respond to the story? Is there a parallel between Huck’s silence and Jim’s silence in earlier chapters of the novel? It seems as if Huck is discrediting Jim’s opinion now that they are with the King and the Duke as opposed to before when Huck would listen and depend on Jim as Jim would to Huck. It seems as if the games Huck used to play with Tom Sawyer are turning to reality as the King and Duke as swindling people out of their money with ease. Although Huck is constantly saying in the book how dumb the King and the Duke act calling it “sickening” and “disgusting,” he never personally confronts them for it. Jim tells Huck he’s against the King and the Duke for being “rapscallions,” but Huck tells Jim “But we’ve got them in our hands, and we’ve got to remember what they are, and make allowances.”(117) Knowing that neither of them agree with how the King and Duke act, Huck makes an excuse for them because he feels like he is on an adventure. Stealing money from people, though in a different fashion, is what Huck wanted to do with his friends however it now happened. This is now the reality.

However, Huck is confused if he thinks that the King and the Duke are in his hands. Huck has no idea whether or not the King and the Duke will actually share the money with him, or actually try to sell Jim when they make it to New Orleans. All the King needs to due is start using some sign language that baffles Huck, and the King and the Duke are already on the same page. “He turns around and begins to make a lot of signs to the Duke hands…all of the sudden he seems to catch his meaning, and jumps for the King.”(122) Huck may know the false identity of the two con artist, however, he does not know their real identity. They might not care about Huck and Jim judging by the way they treat them. In public, Huck is their servant while Jim gets tied up or dressed in a ridiculous costume to avoid being caught by others. The fact that Huck is not paying as much attention to Jim might come around to haunt them because there could be an instant where the King and the Duke will take advantage of them and what can a child and a runaway slave do about it? There is not much that can be done.