Chapters 23 & 24
The duke and the king may be great con artists, but running around naked on all fours is a pretty radical way to get money! There's something wrong with you if you?re willing to run around naked on stage just to make a buck! It was a good scam though; they perfectly predicted what was going to happen and were able to escape just in the nick of time. Jim agrees with me on the 'royalty's' behavior, I see; he can't understand why they would act so crudely and greedily. The condition of Jim's daughter is truly sad, however. Imagine hitting your daughter for not closing the door, and then finding out she was dumb and deaf!
Speaking of dumb and deaf, the duke and king are at it again with another scheme to rob people of their money! I hope they get caught. If I were Huck or Jim, I'd get out of there fast. The duke and king may be smart and good at getting money, but they still don't seem very trustworthy. At least they aren't tying Jim up to a pole anymore; however, being a 'sick Arab' is pretty suspicious too...
Response to 23 & 24
What a haul they made! I agree with you on the fact that the act they pulled off was crazy, but $500 was a lot of money back then, wasn't it? I think I would have done it. Based on what they said earlier, they made $100 more than steamboat owners did in a year! I too feel bad for Jim's daughter, and it's strange how Jim could be treated so horribly throughout his life and still be a caring person.
As for the King's new plan, I think he's getting cocky and mean. Before, they did some work, but this is just plain cruel. I agree Huck should leave, although if I were him I'd want to see how it would turn out (not to mention a share of the money).
Chapters 25 & 26
Finally our friend Huck is developing a sense of conscience. It's a good decision to give back the money, seeing how the king and duke are serious about taking the money. I must admit though, that they had me fooled by giving the money away. Was it just their dumb luck that they got it back? Also, Huck had better get out of there. From the looks of their conversation, the sisters will be over him in no time.
I'm not sure whether he can pull of his plan though. It seems like the duke and king are fairly smart and will quickly figure out Huck. Frankly however, I'm worried about Jim. Where has he been the last 20 pages?
Response to 25 &26
Good, may-be Huck won't turn out to be like his father and the 'royalty!' I'm glad he's going to be giving the money back as well. It?s about time he went up against those two con artists and did what was right. You?re right, though; the duke and the king are very intelligent. Huck will have to hide the stash in a very clever place in order to keep it from them. But if he can fake his own death, then hiding the cash should be easy.
I almost wish Huck would reveal their true identities! Then those poor girls would have the money and the 'royalty' would be locked up. They really should have taken the money and run while they had the chance! As for Jim, he's probably still waiting at the raft. At least he?s not caught up in this mess!
Chapters 27 & 28
Huck's done it again! Not only has he hidden the money in the last place anyone would think to look, but he cleverly tricked the duke and the king into thinking it was the sold slaves! Fortunately, the undertaker didn?t find it, so now it's safely in the ground. Is it just me, or was that undertaker guy pretty creepy? I'm not sure how taking a dead rat from a dog makes him popular, either.
I'm glad Huck ended up telling Mary Jane about the royalty and the money; it wasn't really risky at all. Now he has an alibi who will stick up for him if things start to sour, which they do. How are the royalty going to talk their way out of trouble now, with the real uncles in town? Huck should get out of there fast, because Mary Jane won't be back until night and I don't thin they'll last that long!
Response to 27 & 28
Indeed, Huck is somewhat of a scandal genius. It was a risk to put it in the coffin, but unlike you I?m surprised no one found it. It was right there! By the way, I don?t think it was the fact that the undertaker took the rat from the dog that makes him popular, but rather that he satisfied everyone?s curiousity by telling what happened.
There is one thing I think that bothered me that I think I should mention ? Isn?t it interesting that Huck felt glad that the slaves didn?t accept any blame? I think Huck is developing ideas about racism and slavery. I too am glad that he told Mary Jane about what she might do. AS for the situation on the landing, can you say ?run??!
Chapters 29 & 30
Like I said, the duke and the king should have taken the $6000 cash and ran away as soon as possible. Now they?re back at square one again. At least they escaped with their lives. It didn?t seem as though they?d be so lucky for a while back in that tavern. I wonder if that new set of uncles really were the true heirs. They never did say whether or not there was a tattoo on Mr. Wilk?s chest. Wouldn?t it be funny if there really was a blue arrow on his chest?! Well, the girls got their money and property back. At least they have a happy ending.
As for Huck, I?m not really sure if he has a happy or sad ?ending?. He escaped with his life, which is a definite plus, but he?s still stuck with the duke and the king. It?s obvious he no longer appreciates their company. To make things worse, the royalty is a bit grumpy about losing the cash and have become violent. At least Jim is back.
Response to 29 & 30
I definitely believe the second set of uncles. First, why would they bring up the whole tattoo thing if they didn?t even know? Second, why would a second set of frauds even try to fool people if the duke and king have the monopoly on the subject? Here I?ll apply Akham?s razor: what seems simpler ? that the second couple found out about the ?lean to? and hope to steal the money again? Or may-be that they?re the real uncles, who were expected late anyway?
On the subject of the duke and king, I think Huck should get rid of them. After all, it is Huck and Jim?s raft anyway! Maybe they?ll push them into the water at night?
Chapters 31 & 32
The king and duke have definitely worn out their welcome. They are broke and the king has sold Jim. How low can you go? But one good thing has come of this ? Huck has decided not to be racist and actually go against his upbringing and save Jim. I imagine that?s tough to do. He even says in the book htat he doesn?t care if he goes to hell!
As for the whole thing about the Phelps? house, WOW! Tom Sawyer! Who knew? I?d say it?s pretty lucky for Huck seeing as how he knows more about the Sawyer family than any family he made up. It might be dangerous to have the real Tom around though?
Response to 31 &32
You?re right, they can?t get much lower than that. Selling Jim was a horrible thing to do. Poor Huck! At least he?s determined to be rid of them for good. Hopefully they?ll keep out of his life from now on. I?m so glad that Huck has finally realized that Jim is a true friend who he should try to set free. It took him long enough to realize it though! It probably was difficult to do; it goes against everything he?s ever learned. He even thinks that God wants him to turn Jim in. This shows that friendship is a very powerful emotion.
I can?t believe that the Phelps are related to Tom Sawyer! Providence really is with Huck! Huck practically was a brother to Tom and shouldn?t have trouble taking his place. Maybe this connection will help him to get Jim back!
Chapters 33 & 34
Tom Sawyer is definitely not all he?s cracked up to be. He stuttered and in general is much worse a liar than Huck is . May-be it?s just because Huck has had more practice? As for the duke and king (more like the ?tar? and ?feather?), I just don?t see how Huck could have any sympathy for them at all. They sold Jim , Huck?s good friend, into slavery!
On another note, Tom?s plan to set Jim free is crazy isn?t it? May-be its just me, but too much style is a bad thing, Tom.
Response to 33 & 34
I think Tom deserves his reputation ? he?s just as wily and inventive as Huck is. Huck certainly seems to think so! He respects him as it is Tom who taught him everything he knows. Huck has had a lot of practice recently, however. I, too, agree that the duke and the king deserve what they get, but you can?t expect Huck to be remorseless. Being tarred and feathered is a horrible fate, even for two scoundrels like the ?royalty?.
Tom is kind of weird. Why does he want to delay Jim?s escape so much? I liked Huck?s plan; Tom?s is to risky and time consuming.
Chapters 35 & 36
Tom is the weirdest kid I?ve ever known! Can?t he ever do anything the easy way? He?s actually creating difficulties for them to overcome while rescuing Jim! Just because things aren?t ?the regular way? doesn?t mean they can?t be the best way. First he wanted to dig a moat. Then he wanted to sneak in a rope ladder by putting it in a pie. Then he was thinking of sawing Jim?s leg off! Now he?s slipping things into Jim?s food; all they need is a prisoner without any teeth!
Huck, who is much more logical than Tom, is having a hard time with all this. At least Tom has agreed to do some things Huck?s way and simply ?let on? they?re doing it the ?regular? way. Jim will never be freed at this rate!
Response to 35 & 36
Tom definitely is making problems for himself by making Jim an Alcatraz of sorts. I think the moat and cutting off Jim?s leg are way over the line too, although I think it would be fun to do most of the rest of the stuff that Tom suggests. (As long as no one gets maimed or something).
You?re right beyond a doubt of Huck having a hard time with the fact that Tom must make everything a complicated process. Wouldn?t you? If I were Huck, I?d have a tough time just going with it also. As for the whole part about ?letting on?, I thought that was hilarious! Here they are arguing about how it took them thirty-seven years to do this, but they?re not even half that! I don?t think anyone except their friends will believe that one.
Chapters 37 & 38
Why don?t they just rescue Jim and leave! Now they?re starting to drive Aunt Sally insane by taking things from the house and playing mind games with her. Mr. Phelps probably isn?t feeling too well either, with spoons appearing in his pickets and mouse holes mysteriously blocking themselves. At least Tom admits they are stealing, not borrowing the items.
Now Tom is trying to damage Jim?s mental health! Jim?s probably dying to break loose and begin his quest to buy his family. Instead, he?s writing on rocks, growing plants in corners, drawing on shirts, and dragging grindstones across town. They actually freed him so he could drag the grindstone and then locked him up again! Please, don?t let Tom start putting snakes and spiders in Jim?s dungeon!
Response to 37 & 38
AHHHHH!! Must?.Have?.Plot?..Progression?..arghhhhh?I don?t understand the meaning of them making this into a horror movie (?Return of the Pranksters?), either. They seem to be taking this to the next level, which worries me because after all they?re only kids like us and running around at night making noise and stealing things is dangerous business; they could get caught. I?m going to have to agree with you on the whole idea of committing Tom?s relatives, too. However, I don?t think Jim has much of a choice in the way of getting away. If he leaves on his own and Huck can?t follow him, where is he going to go? The river goes South and their original plan of going on a ferry won?t work because Jim won?t be allowed on without Huck. About the disease carrying animals about to be put in Jim?s room, good luck Jim!
Chapters 39 & 40
O.K., this is getting out of hand. In chapter 39, they continue to torture the household and Jim by releasing a plague of rats, snakes and spiders; nothing new there. NOW they have a mob of armed farmers to deal with. Huck is so nervous, his brains start to ooze out! Wait that was butter?Anyway, he doesn?t like it. Tom however relishes the thought of being chased down by a band of shotgun toting men!
This time Tom really has gone too far. How did Huck ever become friends with such a maniacal masochist? At least Tom was the only one shot and he was only hit in the leg; he almost deserves it! At least now everyone is happy; Huck considers Jim a true friend (?white on the inside?), Jim is no longer a prisoner and Tom has his glory and wound.
Response to 39 & 40
You said it! Tom and Huck are up to their necks in trouble now. Sure, it?ll be FUN to run away from gun-toting southerners, Tom. Anyway, I?m kind of surprised that Aunt Sally would let Huck just take the butter and bread like she said she would. I would think she would be suspicious as to why Huck was down in the cellar.
As to your rhetorical question about Huck and Tom being friends, I think I could see me and Tom hanging out. If there was almost no school, no detention, and you could manage anything you needed to by yourself, isn?t this what you would be doing (Harmless pranks, I mean) ? I would. I don?t think that one teensy weensy gunshot wound is going to keep him from his style. Maybe if he?s with Huck and Huck suggests it though, maybe Tom will give in and be more careful.
Chapters 41-End
Yay, a happy ending! I can?t believe that Jim was already a free man. Tom is crazier than I thought. He wasn?t even planning to tell Jim he was free until they reached the Gulf of Mexico. What a mess! When Aunt Polly arrived I knew it was going to be trouble. They got off pretty easily though, probably because Tom was still sick. Now Huck is all set; he?s going to be adopted by Aunt Sally (good luck ? she?ll need it) and now he can get back his money because Pap is dead. So that?s who was in that empty house on the island.
Jim probably has the best ending of all and he deserves it. Would you have risked your freedom to help save the life of a boy who almost prevented your escape? It was a tough call, but Jim had the heart to stay and help Tom. Now he?s a free man with his second ?fortune?. I hope he earns enough to buy his family back, or at least enough for some new clothes ? he can?t wear Aunt Sally?s gown forever.
Response to 41-End
Yay is right! I was so sure something bad was going to happen to Jim and only Huck and Tom would get off this train until like you I found out that Miss Watson died (sob). Most of the other stuff I thought was going to happen, like someone from Huck?s town was going to come, that pap was dead all along, etc.
I too agree that Jim deserves his second ?fortune?. He stayed with Huck through to the end, and never once tried to do a bad thing. It just wouldn?t be fair to take away his freedom now, and if he had been enslaved again we?d be right back at square one. What surprises me however is that now the three are going to go and do it again. Sure, Huck has his money to waste, but I guess we?ll never know when Huck will get ?sivilized?!