The Wilks Family

The Wilks family is the target of one of the duke and the king’s most conniving scams. The two cons learn from a local young man that Peter Wilks, a fairly wealthy local tanner, has just passed away. Peter Wilks’s nieces – Mary Jane, Susan, and Joanna (whom Huck refers to as "the hare-lip") – are to inherit the family estate, since their mom and dad (who was Peter’s brother) passed away the year before.

Peter had been hoping to see his other two brothers, William and Harvey, before he died, but they hadn’t yet arrived from England. The duke and the king, being the con-men extraordinaires that they are, decide to pose as the two missing brothers in attempt to steal the family’s riches.

Unfortunately for the cons, the Wilks ladies are very likeable, lovely young women, and Huck just can’t stand by and let the duke and king take the girls' money. Huck grows especially fond of Mary Jane, the oldest of the group. As the head of the remaining family, Mary Jane takes control of the situation, although she’s still heartbroken over the death of her uncle. She comes to represent one of the strongest women in the novel; she’s got a fiery spirit, and she’s not going to take anything from anyone. Her compassion for her family's slaves has a big impact on Huck’s ethical questioning.

Despite her inner strength and noble intentions, Mary does fall for the duke and the king’s scam. Luckily for her, Huck’s soft spot for her leads him to throw a wrench into the cons’ crooked game.