“Don’t it s’prise you de way dem kings carries on, Huck?” “No,” I says, “it don’t.”

“Why don’t it, Huck?”

“Well, it don’t, because it’s in the breed. I reckon they’re all alike.”

“But, Huck, dese kings o’ ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat’s jist what dey is; dey’s reglar rapscallions.”

“Well that’s what I’m a–sayin; all kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out.”

—The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Mark Twain

What’s funny about this passage?

Answers:

✔ Huck has decided that all kings are rascals.

✔ Even children recognize the abuse of power.

✔ Rulers abuse their power.