The Treastise

14th century explorers had always believed that the world was tiny. In fact, many theorized that the world “stopped” past a line where all of the matter on Earth disappeared. Earth, however, is not as small as they imagined. It is replete with diversity, and distinctive personalities are no exception. Floating along the Mississippi River, Huck and Jim are isolated from the rest of the society in a state of serenity where “…days and nights went by…they slid along so quiet and smooth and lovely.” But, it is not long before impostors infiltrate into their tranquil lives on the river. Once in contact with the shore, all peace is disrupted, as the charlatans mirror the harsh reality of the vast world surrounding the waterway. The cloudy “king and duke” invade the remoteness of the pure lives of Huck and Jim in numerous ways. For instance, the “royalty” take up their beds in the wigwam and force the victims to sleep out in the brewing storm. “…the king and the duke had their dukes sprawled around so there warn’t no show for [Huck], so [he] laid outside…” Furthermore, they convey maleficence by lying to the two adventurers, proposing to “cipher out a way so [they] can run in the day-time” in a nearby town, but rather bagging money by conning the villagers. Both nefarious of the characters reflect the disorder of society, which is fitting in a time period of Reconstruction. Defined as an unstable era, the king and duke clearly epitomize the humanity’s distraught at the time. When in contact with the lands, both Huck and Jim exhibit the negative side of the world’s vast diversity. Maybe they should just stay in the waters next time!