Final answer:
Huck does not reveal to Jim that the duke and king are impostors because of his concern for the potential harm that revealing the truth might cause, reflecting the complexity of their relationship and Huck's burgeoning moral independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck chooses not to reveal to Jim that their companions are not real dukes or kings for a variety of reasons that reflect the complexities of their relationship and the social context of the era. Huck, a young boy, often shows a deep concern for navigating his world with moral integrity and empathy, while also grappling with the societal norms of his time, including issues of slavery and deception.
Though he recognizes that the self-proclaimed duke and king are impostors, he also understands the social dynamics at play, including the potential harm that could come from confronting the frauds and the imbalance of power between himself, Jim, and the fraudsters.
Moreover, Twain's narrative emphasizes the themes of friendship and loyalty. Huck values his bond with Jim and doesn't wish to cause upset or distress. He might also feel that revealing the truth would do more harm than good or that the men might retaliate against them.
Huck's silence on the matter echoes the larger motif in the novel of the individual's struggle against a morally corrupt society and his growth towards moral independence.