Huck Finn 5: pg 185-208

“how ornery and tough the fried chickens was” (184). Ornery- ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper; stubborn; low or vile ; inferior or common; ordinary 

“The lid was shoved along about a foot, showing the dead man’s face down there, with a wet cloth over it, and his shroud on” (192). Shroud-a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial 

“I felt so ornery and low down and mean, that I says to myself, My mind’s made up; I’ll hive the money for them or bust” (188).

• This quote shows that Huck is growing.  It is the first time that Huck decides to actively try and stop the duke and dauphin’s plans.  He has decided to tell Mary Jane about the two frauds.  This is a major development in Huck’s character because he would never have done this before.  He tried to stay out of trouble and not say anything about the duke and dauphin’s plans to get money.  He didn’t even tell Jim about the two.  Now we see Huck has grown enough to try and thwart the two frauds.  He is aware of the trouble that he may cause himself, but that does not stop him.  He has decided to do the right thing and tell Mary Jane.  
  

"I reckon a body that ups and tells the truth when he is in a tight place, is taking considerable many resks, though I ain't had no experience, and can't say for certain; but it looks so to me, anyway; and yet here's a case where I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie"(200). 

• Huck may be choosing to tell the truth to cause less trouble, but he is still telling the truth without knowing what the truth may hold.  The truth could break Mary Jane and cause a lot of trouble with the duke and dauphin, but it is safer than a lie.  If Huck lied, he would be stuck in that lie and most likely continue to build more lies around it.  Huck is still trying to stay out of trouble by not lying, but he is doing the right thing by telling the truth.  The duke and dauphin are taking advantage of the poor group of sisters and Huck is doing the right thing by exposing their plans.  Hopefully his decision will end good for him so it doesn’t stop him from telling the truth later in the novel.