# The Whale, the Angel Fish, and the Golden Pigeon explained — The Humbugs of the World > Chapter companion for The Humbugs of the World by P. T. Barnum. ## What happens Barnum recounts how he exhibited a living white whale at the American Museum, which stayed hidden at the bottom of its tank, frustrating visitors who accused him of humbug. He tells of a sharp Yankee lady who insisted the whale was an India-rubber contraption, and later a neighbor who believed a Golden Angel Fish was painted, only to be fooled by the same trick with Golden Australian Pigeons that were actually painted common pigeons. ## Themes in this chapter ### Gullibility and Human Nature Barnum illustrates how people's fear of being humbugged leads them to believe too little, as with the lady who thought the whale was rubber, or too much, as with the painted pigeons. ### Advertising and Showmanship Barnum's management of the whale exhibit and the painted pigeon trick demonstrates showmanship techniques to attract and entertain visitors. ## Character check-ins ### Mr. Barnum Narrator and proprietor of the American Museum, who deals with incredulous visitors and admits to the painted pigeon trick. ### Mrs. Conant A neighbor from Connecticut who first suspects the Angel Fish is painted, then later falls for the painted Golden Pigeons. ### Old Grizzly Adams Mentioned as part-proprietor of the California Menagerie where the Golden Pigeons were exhibited. ## Key lines > I think it would be discovered that in this 'wide awake' country there are more persons humbugged by believing too little than too much. Barnum suggests that in America, more people are fooled by being overly skeptical than by being too trusting. _Reflects the theme of gullibility and human nature._ > I therefore very candidly acknowledged that she was quite too sharp for me, and I must plead guilty to the imposition; but I begged her not to expose me, for I assured her that she was the only person who had discovered the trick. Barnum pretended to confess to the lady that the whale was a fake, flattering her cleverness to keep her satisfied. _Illustrates Barnum's showmanship and handling of skeptical visitors._ > I assure you, upon honor, that the Golden Australian Pigeons, as they are labeled, are really painted; and that in their natural state they are nothing more nor less than the common ruff-necked white American pigeons! Barnum admits that the so-called Golden Australian Pigeons were actually ordinary white pigeons that had been painted. _Key example of a deliberate humbug in Barnum's exhibitions._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/chapters/vi - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_humbugs_of_the_world_se/chapters