Huckleberry Finn's Journey Into Manhood

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Huck Finn experienced physical and mental maturity as a result of his adventurous journey down the Mississippi River. Aspects of Huck’s psychological emotions are dramatically altered because of his decision to aid in freeing Jim, a household slave of Miss Watson, from slavery. Huckleberry Finn experienced many physical and emotional conflicts as his journey down the river with Jim progressed, but Huck greatly matured in the areas on responsibility, courage, and confidence in his personal thought as he attempts to free Jim from slavery.
As Huck traveled down the river, he gained a level of responsibility that was far greater than what is revealed by his actions in St. Petersburg. Huck was a sophomoric young boy who, “. . . had turn the whole thing into an infant Sunday school,” and received joy and satisfaction from raiding peaceful people and pestering citizens. Huck’s irresponsibility, in this case, is partially a result from the idea of “mob mentality,” that similar to the feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons, but also a result of his inability to control his actions. His great development of responsibility is shown when accepts the risk of going to hell in order to pursue a commitment to free Jim from slavery. Huckleberry progressed into a reliable person that was willing to help a new friend find an enjoyable life.
A compilation of events in which Huck is forced to act on instinct constructs him into a courageous, young man. Huck used well-planned tactics to escape from Pap’s cabin to Jackson’s Island, but his skeptical actions on the island, like whether to make a fire that might reveal him, show that he is still a frightened and lonely child. When he meets Jim on the island, his confidence is stimulated as he chooses to become a leader in the plan to find a better life. Huck is shown as a courageous young gentleman when he accepts the risk of being revealed and brutally punished in a successful attempt to free Jim from the confinements of the Phelps family. The union of Jim and Huck sparked the development of a scared child into a courageous young man.
As Huck Finn made important decisions based on his opinions, his personal thoughts became more independent and less influenced by others’ ideas. For example, Huck’s personal thoughts about religion and prayer were strongly guided by Miss Watson, “. . . And she said the thing a body could get by praying for was ‘spiritual gifts’.” Huck chose to allow others to influence his ideas because his knowledge of many subjects was minute and the ideas of others seemed to be logical. He most noticeably develops his independent thought when he comes in contact with a major conflict. Huck’s struggle was whether to help Jim receive freedom from the slavery of Miss Watson or capture Jim and send him back to Miss Watson. He solves this conflict by using his best judgment of the situation, and he chooses to continue Jim’s escape from slavery, which creates a great bond between the two. The development of Huck’s own personal beliefs gave him the confidence of a mature young man. In many instances, water is a symbol of rebirth. As Huck ventured down the vast Mississippi River, he encountered many events that changed Huck from a foolish, naïve child into a mature man. Some of the attributes of a mature man include responsibility, courage, bravery, confidence, and independence. In the successful plan to free Jim from slavery, Huck acquired these mature characteristics. Huckleberry Finn represents the journey into manhood.