[F] Sam: Chapters 26-28

Chapters 26-28 are important to the novel because it shows Huck’s maturation throughout the book, especially since we first meet the Duke and the King. Huck makes some large decisions (hiding the money, telling Mary Jane about his entire plan) and acts for the first time NOT about only himself, but others around him. Surrounded by lies and deceit, Huck decides to come clean and try to help out these girls who are being swindled out of a lot of money. Huck’s motives may have potentially been because he finally wants to put the Duke and King out in the open, or perhaps because he has strange feelings for Mary Jane (which will be discussed later). His behavior, other than the entire scene with the “Harelip” where he keeps slipping up and lying, seems way beyond any kid his age, and although he lost the money, he, and the ones he was helping, can say that he did a good thing.

The major theme of Chapters 26-28 regards Huck and love. From when he meets the three sisters, he holds all three in unusually high regards, especially Mary Jane. Huck finds it hard to believe that the King and Duke are trying to con these three girls, even the Harelip, who Huck still likes (as demonstrated on page 132, when she asks his pardon). Although he is also stealing, he finds it ok to “steal from the stealers”, and is happy when he hides the money. One must not forget that one of Huck’s initial ideas was to come clean and tell about everything to Mary Jane before stealing the money, but he decided against it because “…her face would give [the Duke and King] a hint.” (132)

Eventually, when he DOES tell Mary Jane, which was an admirable idea on his part, they share some heartfelt moments, and she leaves saying “[she] sha’n’t ever forget [him], and [she’ll] think of [him] a many and a many a time.” (144). The next paragraph is Huck telling about how great Mary Jane is, and how he will never forget her, and how he has thought about her many times since they saw each other. It is a moment that shows that Huck really likes Mary Jane, and that she will always be in his heart forever. It was a powerful passage, and it seemed appropriate for Mark Twain to end all of Huck’s maturation throughout the three chapters with him being in “love”.