There is a suggestion in this chapter that "white" society
is superstitious. This parallels the superstitions that Jim espouses in a following
chapter.
The townspeople send out bread stuffed with
quicksilver with the idea that the stuffed bread will go directly to the dead body and
stay there.
They also shoot cannons to raise the body from
the water. Notably, Huck also contemplates prayer in this section and imagines the widow
at prayer.
These ideas can all be related to superstition
as Huck sees it.
Importantly, the town is also seen as
being compassionate. They collectively search for Huck and collectively mourn him,
demonstrating real concern for the lost boy.
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