Chapter+25



Chapter 25 __Character List __ · Mary Jane · The King · The Duke · Rev. Mr. Hoson · Deacon Lot Hovey · Mr. Ben Rucker · Abner Shackleford · <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Levi Bell <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Dr. Robinson <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Wives <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Widow Bartley <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Lawyer Bell <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Peter Wilks <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="display: none; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-hide: all;">HHHHhh <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Harvey <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">William <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Susan <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Joanner <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; msobidifontfamily: Symbol; msofareastfontfamily: Symbol; msolist: Ignore;">· <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Harvey Wilks __ Summary __ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">A crowd of people stood around the Wilk’s home, waiting to see six thousand dollars that Peter Wilks left after he was deceased. Three of his nieces are there, and they believe that the king and the duke are their uncles from England. In the letter that Peter Wilks left behind it says his nieces will receive half of the six thousand dollars and his brothers Harvey and William will receive the other half. When the King and the duke went to go get the money, they found that there was not six thousand dollars. The money had come up four hundred and fifteen dollars short. They were scared some people would become suspicious because of the missing money, so they came up with the idea of counting it in front of everybody then hand it to the girls. A friend of the family, Dr. Robinson, came by and accused the king and the duke of being some imposters and tried to convince the nieces to have nothing to do with them. They insisted and gave all the money to the king and told him to invest it anyway. __ Analysis __ In this chapter, Twain is expanding on the topic of adult corruption. If you look closely, it is not only the duke and king that Twain is focusing on, but the townspeople themselves. We were first introduced to the duke and king’s scheming when we read about the Royal Nonesuch. As we read on into chapter 25 the duke and king <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">sink even lower in their abuse of the townspeople’s gullibility. It’s simple: the two are seamlessly aware of what they’re doing, but they disregard the fact and continue to manipulate the town. A prime example of their indecency is shown when the two are in Peter’s basement—counting the money that was said to be given from, in the will. “Oh,this ain’t bully, nor nothin! Oh, no, I reckon no! Why, Bilgy, it beats the Nonesuch,don’t it!” “It ain’t no use talkin’: bein’ brothers to a rich dead man, and representatives of furrin heirs that’s got left, is the line for you and me,Bilge. Thish-yer comes of trust’n to Providence. It’s the best way, in the long run. I’ve tried ‘em all, and ther’ ain’t no better way. As you can see, the two are just plotting to get rich—they’re sly robbers. Remember, Twain is also making an example out of the townspeople, he’s written for them to be naïve of the fact that the duke and king are imposters. We see such case in Mary Jane’s response to Dr. Robinson accusation. “Now listen to me; turn this pitiful rascal out- I beg you to do it. Will you?” “Here is my answer…take this six thousand dollars, and invest for me and my sisters any way you want to, and don’t give us no receipt for it.” So, as you can see, the girls disregard what the doctor had to say and gave the money right back to the duke and king anyway. __ Literary Examples __ Symbol(s): **Money** As we seen in past chapters, the duke and the king are out on a get rich quick scheme. In chapter 25 our primary source comes from the actions of the duke and king and how they are able to manipulate the townspeople into actually believing that they’re Wilks’ brothers. The duke and king are just worried about getting the money from the rich deceased. Theme: **False Information** As mentioned before, the duke and king are pretending to be Peter’s brothers from out of town. They represent the theme from when the two first put on an act over the coffin to when they accept all six thousand dollars from the three sisters. Satire: **Knowing right from wrong** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">You see, the duke and the king know exactly what they’re doing, but they refuse to let their consciences get to them. The two know that giving the money to the girls, in the first place, was the right thing to. Alas, they still accept tall the money from the girls when it is re-offered to them.