This episode that occurs in Chapters 24-30 in the book is
another indication of how Huck Finn develops as a character as he works against the
dastardly scheme of the Duke and the King to fraudulently disinherit the money of the
heirs of Peter Wilks.
It is when Huck experiences the
kindness and generosity of Mary Jane and Susan, who stops Joanna (correctly)
interrogating Huck on the suspicion that he is lying that he begins to think again about
letting the girls becoming the latest victims of the Duke and the King. Note what he
says:
I says
to myself, this is a girl that I'm letting that old reptle rob her of her money!... And
when she got through they all jest laid theirselves out to make me feel at home and know
I was amongst friends. I felt so ornery and low down and mean that I says to myself, my
mind's made up; I'll hive that money for them or
bust.
The girls' defence of a
total stranger, as well as their appeal to their sister fro an apology, impresses Huck
enough to realise that he cannot allow the Duke and the King to take advantage
of these kind and gentle young girls. He decides to help the sisters. Huck's disgust at
the Duke and the King demonstrates his continuing maturity. Early in the novel, Huck's
morals were none too firm, but as he rafts down the river, he gets to know Jim, and has
to deal with the con men, Huck is not only able to distinguish right from wrong, but he
is beginning to stand up for what he believes in.
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