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Buck Grangerford is a boy about Huck's age who is deceptively kind and welcoming. The boys get along well and Buck even urges Huck "to stay always" with the Grangerford family. However, Buck is a product of his upbringing and maintains his family's grudge against the Shepherdsons. He is extremely violent toward the other family and brags to Huck about trying to shoot and kill members of the Shepherdson clan. He has clearly been conditioned to believe that the Shepherdsons pose a true threat. One day, when out walking with Huck, Buck sees a Shepherdson and immediately shoots at him. When Huck questions what the Shepherdson ever did to Buck, Buck replies, “Him? He never done nothing to me…only it’s on account of the feud.” Buck acts as if on autopilot, doing what he's been told regardless of the reason. He is desensitized to the feud and talks of violence and death on both sides as if they are necessary casualties in an essential war. Twain criticizes the tendency of adults to project their grudges and afflictions onto new generations of children and raise them to engage with hatred, violence, and prejudice.
After the Romeo and Juliet-esque affair between a Grangerford and a Shepherdson, a violent fight breaks out between the two families and Buck is killed. Buck's death is a sobering moment of reality for the reader. Initially, the ridiculous feud is somewhat comical. However, as a young boy loses his life due to a meaningless feud, Twain reminds readers of the dangers of petty rivalry and therefore critiques the irrationality of the adult world.
