'The romance of life is the only part of it which is overwhelmingly valuable, and romance dies with youth. After that, life is a drudge, and indeed a sham.'
By PBC2011
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Widow Douglas and Miss Watson
Miss Watson and the Widow Douglas take Huck in at the beginning of the story, with the idea that they are going to civilize him.Huck doesn't take to this very well. 'Then she told me about the bad place, and I said I wished I was there. She got mad then, but I didn't mean no harm. All I wanted was to go somewheres; all I wanted was a change.' (Twain 2) -
Romantic Tom and his Gang
Huck and Tom meet the rest of the town boys and they all go to a hidden cave down the river. There, Tom declares that their group will be a band of robbers called %u201CTom Sawyer%u2019s Gang.%u201D Using the pirate book Don Quixote as a resource for organization, Tom describes the future business of the gang as possible robbery and murder. When others wonder why everything must be so complicated, with ransoms and guards, Tom replies that since it is in the books, %u201Cthat%u2019s what we%u2019ve got to do%u201D (Twain 7). -
The Duke and the Dauphin Board the Raft
The Duke and the Dauphin have just joined Jim and Huck, and created their fake identities. Huck has caught on to their scheme, however he doesn%u2019t let on to them that he knows they aren%u2019t really who they say they are. %u201CIt didn%u2019t take me long t make up my mind that these liars warn%u2019t no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds.%u201D (Twain 113) -
Jim and Huck Discuss the Duke and the Dauphin
The Duke and the Dauphin have been traveling with Huck and Jim, and have been scheming ways to collect money from towns people. After they create a handbill that describes Jim as a runaway slave, Jim and Huck discuss the two men and whether they will meet anyone else like them. When Huck says they won%u2019t, Jim replies, %u201CDat%u2019s all right, den. I doan%u2019 mind one er two kings, but dat%u2019s enough. Dis one%u2019s powerful durnk, en de duke ain%u2019 much better.%u201D (Twain 121) -
The Grangerfords and the Sheperdsons
Huck falls into the middle of a feud between the Grangerfords and the Sheperdsons. When Huck asks what the feud is about, Buck Grangerford tells him,'It started thirty years ago, or som'ers along there. There was trouble 'bout something, and then a lawsuit to settle it; and the suit went up agin one of the men, and so he up and shot the man that won the suit-which he would naturally do, of course...but they don't know what the row was about in the first place.' (Twain 97-98) -
Colonel Sherburn
After Colonel Sherburn shoots and kills Boggs, an angry mob arrives to lynch him. He delivers a speech to them. In part of it, he says, 'Do I know you? I know you clear through. I was born and raised in the South, and I've lived in the North; so I know the average all around. The average man's a coward.' (Twain 132) -
Mary Jane's Reaction to the Slaves
Huck finds Mary Jane crying in her room and asks her what's wrong. 'She said the beautiful trip to England was most spoiled for her; she didn't know how she was ever going to be happy there, knowing the mother and the children warn't ever going to see each other no more...' (Twain 167) Huck thoughtlessly tells her that the slaves will be reunited soon when the scam is discovered, and Mary Jane is extremely greatful to Huck for telling her. She says she will pray for him and think about him. -
Tom Plans Jim's Escape
Tom discovers that Jim is being held in a small farm cabin, and the two boys discuss plans to set Jim free. Huck%u2019s logical plan includes stealing the keys, unlocking Jim, and immediately running for the raft. Tom, however, claims that the plan is too simple, and is as %u201Cmild as goose milk%u201D (Twain 208). They make plans for an elaborate escape, each step growing more and more complicated and time-consuming. -
Tom is Shot, Huck is Caught, and Jim is Free
When Huck tells Tom the house is full of men with guns, Tom replies as if the entire escape is a dramatic work of fiction: %u201CAin%u2019t it bully!%u201D (Twain 243). When they escape and arrive at the raft, Tom announces he has been shot in the calf. Huck fetches a doctor and sends him out to the raft.
Tom tells Aunt Sally how they had orchestrated this entire escape, relishing every moment. He tells them to let him go, telling everyone that Miss Watson had died and set Jim free in her will.
