The King And The Duke In Huck Finn

Each character in a book has a purpose and often a criminal is included as a way for author to teach their readers a lesson. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, two insincere, mischievous conmen are introduced to the readers near the end of the book. Mark Twain utilizes the King and the Duke as a means to ruin the peace Huck Finn has grown accustomed to throughout his trip on the Mississippi River. The King and the Duke represent how Huck may be able to escape certain people in his life but not types of people. The King and the Duke live off criminal schemes that hurt the child protagonist and his companions, much like Treasure Island’s Long John Silver. The King and the Duke force Huck to participate in activities that hurt the people that
As conmen, the King and the Duke were accustomed to lying and to the adrenaline that comes with creating those intricate lies. They have grown addicted to the adrenaline high that comes with lying that they lie when it is unnecessary. When they first met Huck Finn and Jim, the King and the Duke did not have to conjure obviously false stories. The duo could have told them their actual names and share their real life stories. They more they lie the more they adapt to their high and soon it becomes harder and harder to receive that high. That means they have to lie more and their lies have to be bigger. This need for more adrenaline drives the King and the Duke to create more outrageous lies, like being the son of Louis XVI (Twain 94). When they cannot get those highs they are agitated than usual, which hurts both Huck and Jim. This is much like Long John Silver, who is an addict to his lies as well. Throughout the book Long John Silver is essentially playing a character, like the King and the Duke. He has to convince Jim Hawkins and Dr. Livesy that he is a respectable and kind person when in reality he is plotting to overthrow them and take their treasure. Their addiction drives them to continue their lifestyle because if they do not continue their lies then they would crash from lack of
In the end of Treasure Island, Jim Hawkins essentially writes a memoir to Long John Silver, because Jim felt so close to him and felt so deeply for Long John Silver and what he represented. Huck hated the King and the Duke. He did not want to be around them. The King and the Duke were invited onto the raft, which was supposed to be the King and the Duke’s temporary safety, and began to impose themselves as the leader. When Pap, who is often said to be the King and the Duke’s equivalent in Huck’s eyes, died in the end of the book, Huck was relieved. Huck had not connection to his antagonists. That is another interesting part of their characters. Long John Silver, a pirate who started a mutiny and killed many people was able to show a boy more kindness than two