Mark Twain chooses to insert some of his well-known humor in his story about the group's capers in Athens. What purpose do you think the humor has in this chapter?

Twain has obviously been fed up with the events that have taken place in Italy, and a change of scenery is good for him. He is determined to see the Acropolis, despite what the government of Greece thinks. His defiance and the pratfalls of his companions make for a refreshingly funny entry.