The sort of man Jim Smiley is comes through in the narrative. Jim Smiley – like the narrator himself – is a vagabond. Within
the limits that have been set for him, he is shrewd, talented and energetic. No doubt, this contributes to the absurdity and hilarity of the tale. But, above all, Jim Smiley is the type of person one can easily identify with and a person who readily gains the sympathy of the reader.
Jim Smiley was a very, very lucky man; in fact, he almost (always) came out to be the winner. However, there was one exception where his luck deserted him. He misread the character of the stranger, and left the frog in his safe-keeping. Unlike Jim Smiley, who would not have conceived of such a thing, the stranger had no moral qualms in weighing down “the celebrated jumping frog” with small lead balls. This – more than anything else – suggests that Jim Smiley was, in fact, none other than the Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley. Jim Smiley was surprised and disgusted; he was not really upset at losing the bet (some forty dollars), but he was infuriated that the stranger had cheated.
The narrator did not regard this tale as either funny or ridiculous; he narrated it with earnestness and sincerity. This is not the tone of voice one would use for an “enterprising vagabond” alone. This suggests that, indeed, the Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley is being referred to. There appears to a quirk in his character, so out of tune with his religious calling, that a separate name has to be assigned to him. Is Jim Smiley the alter ego of the Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley? His “secular” double, which is known only to his close (and intimate) friends? All evidence suggests that is indeed the case.
There are two heroes in this tale (as the narrator describes it); the one is Jim Smiley as he is the main protagonist - that much is obvious. But who is the other? Is it Simon Wheeler or the Stranger or even the “celebrated jumping frog”? Evidence suggests that the other hero is none other than the Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley; a man of principles and a man of strong moral character. He is never introduced to the reader as such; he is only referred to in the third person. One is never certain, but one can only guess what his true nature is. The author is seeking the reverend, but his friends only know the compulsive gambler!
Mark twain rode the “celebrated jumping frog” (Dan’l Webster by name) to success and fortune – this was the tale that made a reputation for him. Although the story contains many examples of humor; the fact of the matter is that the funny side derives from the situation itself (which is both comical and absurd). It is difficult to take seriously a tale that describes the jumping abilities of a frog! But, there is a touch of sadness as well: Smiley trusts the stranger – and leaves his frog at the mercy of the latter – but the stranger deceives Smiley for no other reason than to make a fast buck for himself. Thus, this tale is also a telling commentary on the banality of human nature.