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Huck's Arrival
Huck comes back into town after Jim, the slave, is captured. He runs into Tom Sawyer, the impish boy and an antithesis to Huck himself, who had originally thought that Huck had been killed. Huck convinces Tom that he is not a ghost, and asks him to help him free Jim. Tom agrees, to Huck's surprise; he says, "I’ll HELP you steal him!” -
Tom -
This statement by Tom is rather contradictory to his usual attitude, or what Huck believes to be Tom's attitude. Huck says, "...and I’m bound to say Tom Sawyer fell considerable in my estimation. Only I couldn’t believe it. Tom Sawyer a NIGGER-STEALER!" Huck could not believe that Tom Sawyer would help him steal Jim. -
Huck and Tom go to Aunt Sally's
Huck leaves with excitement because of Tom's agreement. He arrives at Aunt Sally's, with Tom arriving about thirty minutes later, where they disguise themselves. As they have dinner with Uncle Silas and Aunt Sally, who invited them over although they had no idea who they were, Tom leans over and kisses her. She is shocked, but then he explains that he is 'Sid Sawyer'. She believes him. -
Aunt Sally & Silas Traits
Aunt Sally and Uncle Silas are hospitable people; this is shown when they welcome Tom and Huck into their home although they did not know them. Silas is a preacher, and is known for being kind.
They are easily fooled, however, and they still own slaves like the typical southerners of the time. -
The King and Duke
They escaped Aunt Sally's when she and the farmer told them they couldn't go to the King and Duke's show; they escaped through the window. They were on their way into town when they saw the King and Duke covered in tar and feathers, being dragged by the people. Although they were frauds, Huck says this: "...it seemed like I couldn’t ever feel any hardness against them any more in the world. It was a dreadful thing to see. Human beings CAN be awful cruel to one another." -
Quote Meaning:
This is an example of Mark Twain's tendency to point out the flaws in society through Huck's words. This shows Huck's growing maturity in this portion of the story. After this, he says, "...it don’t make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person’s conscience ain’t got no sense, and just goes for him anyway." Huck is shown to understand human nature very well. Twain also satires another flaw of society.
