Student Question
Why does the king confess to stealing the gold in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
Quick answer:
The king confesses to stealing the gold during a heated confrontation with the duke, who is physically assaulting him. Fearing for his life as the duke threatens to drown him, the king admits to the theft to end the conflict. This confession also relieves Huck, as it shifts suspicion away from him regarding the stolen money.
The king confesses to stealing the money and putting it in the coffin while the duke is strangling him. If the king continues to deny stealing the money, the duke may kill him.
Just before the king confesses, Huck narrates that he "began to gurgle". This suggests that the duke, who had stopped attacking the king, has begun again in his physical assault on the king.
In order to end the argument and save his life, the king relents and admits that he was the one who stole the money.
The scuffle ends with the duke saying, "If you ever deny it again I'll drown you."
Huck feels "more easier" than he was feeling before knowing now that he is not suspected of stealing the money.
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