Life on the Mississippi

Main Characters and Their Development

• Mark Twain - the main narrator and author, who shares his memories of time spent on the Mississippi and his experience working as a steamboat pilot. His character develops through personal observations and reflections on life and changes on the river.
• Mr. Bixby - an experienced pilot who teaches the young Twain the art of navigating the Mississippi. He is portrayed as a strict but fair mentor whose lessons have a significant impact on Twain's development.
• The Captain - various steamboat captains whom Twain encounters on his journeys. They represent a variety of characters and management styles, helping Twain better understand the complexity and multifaceted nature of life on the river.
• Passengers and riverbank residents - numerous secondary characters encountered by Twain along the way. They add color and depth to the narrative, reflecting the diversity of human fates and characters the author encounters.