Examples Of Malice In The Adventures Of Essay Example

analyze their manipulation of different identities.

The initial interactions between Huck and Jim, as well as the duke and the dauphin, illustrate a prime example. These two men team up with Huck and Jim, assuming false identities. The younger man presents himself as a destitute English duke, while the older man claims to be King Louis XVI of France's lost son - a story Huck had recently read. In response to these personas, Huck and Jim serve them and address them as "Duke" and "Your Majesty," treating them like real royalty. Although Huck realizes their identities are fake, he keeps this knowledge concealed to avoid conflicts. However, this situation puts Huck and Jim in a difficult position since any disagreements could easily lead the criminals but still free white men known as the "duke" and the "dauphin" to betray them. As a result, Huck and Jim find themselves relatively powerless which challenges Huck's previous belief that he is free on the river without outside interference.

Huck's journeys on the Mississippi River reveal that it represents both freedom and danger. This is evident in the deceitful actions of the duke and the dauphin, who pose as reformed pirates turned missionaries to trick people at a religious gathering. The crowd is easily fooled, resulting in them generously donating over eighty dollars.

The duke and the dauphin's initial deception occurs at a revered religious gathering, showcasing their maliciousness. Furthermore, their scheme involving the Royal Nonesuch is also brought up. The spectacle ultimately consists of a brief display of absurd dancing that fails to justify the 50 cents extracted from the townsfolk. As the third evening

of the performance arrives, vengeance is on the minds of the locals; however, by then, both rogues have already escaped and continue their voyage along with Huck and Jim.

Mark Twain, the author, portrays the actions of the two men more as comedy, even though their malice is still evident. Despite the presence of malice, the two men are able to maintain their reputation due to the audience's reaction, particularly during the first performance of "The Royal Nonesuch". Instead of warning the other townspeople about the terrible show, the audience from the first night prefers to see everyone else get deceived in the same way they did. This demonstrates their spiteful nature while also contributing to the success of the men's efforts.

The following scam involves the impersonation of Peter Wilks' two brothers. Peter Wilks, a wealthy man who recently died, left a $6,000 inheritance for his siblings. The dauphin convinces the townspeople that he is one of the brothers by adopting an absurd English accent and presenting himself as a preacher from England. Simultaneously, the duke pretends to be a deaf-mute in order to match the descriptions of the other brother.

The Wilks sisters, who are likely not thinking rationally after the loss of their father, receive an inheritance that allows them to succeed. However, Huck hides the inheritance in Peter Wilks' coffin in an attempt to thwart a cruel plan, causing it to go missing. This puts Huck and the real Wilks brothers at risk of being lynched. Despite the danger, they manage to escape.

The events at the Wilks’ estate alter how the reader perceives the identity of

the two men. Despite having a comedic undertone to their character, the fact that they go to extreme measures to claim the estate puts not only their lives, but also the lives of others, in danger. As a result, the reader is likely to view them as menacing and highly dangerous. This perception of malice continues in the fourth example.

The duke and the dauphin pose a direct danger to Huck and Jim, as they manipulate Jim's vulnerable status as a runaway slave. This becomes evident when the duke creates a counterfeit leaflet offering a reward for Jim's capture during their time in Pikesville. Eventually, at the Wilks' property, someone discovers the leaflet and apprehends Jim. Consequently, both Jim and Huck face extreme jeopardy, with Huck defying societal norms and risking everything to rescue Jim.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn showcases numerous deceitful schemes and lies, predominantly perpetrated by the duke and the dauphin. These dishonest actions prove to be harmful as they victimize a significant number of innocent individuals. However, it is evident that the gravity of their scams escalates following the distressing events at the Wilks' estate, resulting in a transition from a criminal yet comedic portrayal to a highly perilous one.