Deception is used a lot in everyday life from keeping secrets to telling lies. In the book Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain deception holds a big role. Many characters in the novel used deception but not all for the same reasons. One of the many themes in Huckleberry Finn is lies can be selfish, or selfless. The king and Duke were big characters in the novel using deception for greed. They only cared about what other people could do for them and what they could gain from other people. When the men learned about a family whose dad had passed away they saw a perfect opportunity for personal gain. They acted like they were the Wilks brothers to get the inheritance money of the man's brothers. ‘“My, way the king's eyes did shine! He slaps the Duke on the shoulder and says “Oh this ain't bully or nothin! Oh, no, i reckon not! Why biljy, it beats the …show more content…
His lies started to protect Jim just as much as they protected himself. While on the river the boys got found by slave catchers. While Jim hid inside the tent Huck went to talk to the men. “‘He's white” “I reckon we'll go and see for ourselves” “I wish you would,” says I, “because it's pap that's in there, and maybe you'd help me tow the raft ashore to where the light is. He's sick- and so is mom and Mary Ann”’ Huck used his wit to make the men leave them alone. Huck's lies turned from selfish to selfless over the course of the novel. Many lies were told and secrets were kept in Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. The difference between these deceptions were merely their intentions whether selfish or selfless. Even though there were characters like the King and Duke using lies for greed there were other characters like Jim using lies to help others. Over time Huck saw this too and his lies turned from selfish to selfless as his bond with Jim grew. Not all deceptions are bad, there can be both selfish and selfless