Some of the more (in)famous con men in History were Frank Abagnale (got a movie made about him!), Charles Ponzi, Soapy Smith, and Clifford Irving. I'm not saying they should be admired or emulated, but they certainly made life more colorful.
As with any mythological tale of the Joseph Campbell stripe, "Little Big Man" has its mentors to the hero. Mr. Meriweather serves as the Trickster/Mentor, weaving in and out of the story in order to guide Jack Crabbe forward in his development, even if it doesn't always feel like he's doing any good for Jack.
Like when they get tarred and feathered.....
Jack Crabb:
You don't know when you're licked!
Allardyce T. Meriweather:
Licked? I'm not licked.
I'm tarred and feathered, that's all.
Allardyce T. Meriweather:
[Old Lodge Skins] gave you a vision of moral order in the universe,
and there isn't any.
Those stars twinkle in a void, dear boy,
and the two-legged creature schemes and dreams beneath them, all in vain.
Men will believe anything,
the more preposterous the better:
Whales speak French at the bottom of the sea.
The horses of Arabia have silver wings.
Pygmies mate with elephants in darkest Africa.
I have sold all those propositions.
Jack Crabb: After my religion period, I took up with a swindler: Allardyce Merriwhether. After Mrs. Pendrake, his honesty was downr...
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