Question

in chapters 22 and 23 of the adventures of huckleberry finn, the idea that the common swindlers, the duke and the king, believably pose as royalty can be viewed as quite humorous. what does twain’s use of this humorous situation throughout the passage accomplish? it draws a parallel between common swindlers and those who rule the government. it draws a parallel between common swindlers and the townspeople they attempt to cheat. it draws a parallel between the townspeople and those who rule the government. it draws a parallel between those who rule the government and those who support them.

Answer 1

The correct answer is it draws a parallel between common swindlers and the townspeople they attempt to cheat.

Indeed, the author is using these characters to convey the message that Southern Society was extremely hypocritical since they pretended to be pious Christians and democratic Americans and yet defended fiercely the pecualiar institution of slavery. Furthermore, to the black slaves, they were akin to some kind of racial royalty and enjoyed a very monarchic supremacy over their slaves.

The Duke and the King are preying on such ethos in order to profit from it.