Maturation In Mark Twain's The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn

Huck’s Maturation
“...Think of ME! It would get all around that Huck Finn helped a nigger to get his freedom; and if I was ever to see anybody from that town again I'd be ready to get down and lick his boots for shame” (Twain). At the beginning of the novel, Huck was still in the state of mind that all others were at the time. However, there is a clear maturation as the novel progresses, and his view on multiple iconic issues for the time period in which the characters were placed were drastically changed. However, there were three major themes in the novel that had the largest impact on the increase of maturity Huck went through throughout the novel. Huck’s maturation throughout the novel occurred due to his exposure to race issues, morality, and his strong friendships.
Throughout the novel, it can be seen that Huck’s opinion on the morality of helping Jim escape directly parallels with his level of maturity. At the beginning of the novel, Huck is weary of helping Jim, a runaway slave,escape from his “rightful owner” Ms. Watson. Huck goes on to say “I was sorry to hear Jim say that, it was such a lowering of him. My conscience got to stirring me up hotter than ever, until at last I says to it, "Let up on me—it ain't too late yet—I'll paddle ashore at the first light and tell." I felt easy and happy and light as a feather right off. All my troubles was

As soon as Huck saw Jim as a person, their bond of friendship only grew stronger as they traveled down the river. Jim was basically Huck’s father figure at this point, and his wisdom extensively helped Huck’s journey of maturation. Jim once said "Pooty soon I'll be a-shout'n' for joy, en I'll say, it's all on accounts o' Huck; I's a free man, en I couldn't ever ben free ef it hadn' ben for Huck; Huck done it. Jim won't ever forgit you, Huck; you's de bes' fren' Jim's ever had; en you's de ONLY fren' ole Jim's got now"