Question

m chapter 23 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

"We are sold—mighty badly sold. But we don't want to be the laughing stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we want is to go out of here quiet, and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we'll all be in the same boat. Ain't that sensible?"

What is ironic about the judge’s statement?

Responses

Although the show was truly funny, the townspeople are still petrified of what others will say about the fact they attended the show.
Although the show was truly funny, the townspeople are still petrified of what others will say about the fact they attended the show.

In spite of the fact the townspeople claim to be embarrassed about attending the show, they actually enjoyed themselves immensely.
In spite of the fact the townspeople claim to be embarrassed about attending the show, they actually enjoyed themselves immensely.

Despite the fact they themselves have been fooled, the townspeople trick themselves into thinking it will be easy to fool the others.
Despite the fact they themselves have been fooled, the townspeople trick themselves into thinking it will be easy to fool the others.

Rather than admit they have been fooled, the townspeople truly believe it is more sensible to devise a plan to fool the others as well.

Answer 1

Correct answer: "Rather than admit they have been fooled, the townspeople truly believe it is more sensible to devise a plan to fool the others as well."

Why: The irony is that the judge—and the townspeople—have been duped, yet instead of owning up to being gullible, they decide to hide their embarrassment by helping perpetuate the same deception on others. Their plan to "sell the rest of the town" to avoid being laughed at is hypocritical and self-deceptive, the opposite of what one would expect from people who just discovered they'd been cheated.