My favorite part of the novel was the con of the Duke and King to the Wilks family. This part of the novel brought the conning and the conmen to a climax where no one was sure where this could go and how it could turn out.
This was one of the most devious cons to take place in the novel and perhaps the most elaborate. However, it was not planned out very well. There were many flaws in the scheme which one by one become increasingly apparent. Firstly, the fake English accents must have been a huge giveaway, and then the lack of consistency between the lies taking place. Although, no matter how ridiculous, they almost got away with it easily. The people easily believed them, and whoever questioned them was ridiculed, as if they were the idiots.
It was interesting to see how far people will make themselves believe for some entertainment. For a change in scenery and an additional face in the crowd. In todays world fraud is a concern of almost everyone. Every other commercial warns you of identity theft and taking care of yourself online. But in those times, people were naive towards it, almost trusting to one another.
This scene in the novel shows the naivety and stubbornness in the characters. Not only the towns people are naive and stubborn but it is portrayed throughout the whole novel (Jim, Huck, Tom, and etc.); The characters are resistant to believe something that they cannot accept. This is also partially the reason why the cons got caught; “the king” was obsessive to take more although he was warned by “the duke.”