The Mississippi River is symbolic of growth, as well as decline. It marks Twain’s growth from a child wanting to pilot a steamboat to a man who learns firsthand how to do so. The Mississippi also shows the growth of America from its early days of discovery to post-war days, and illustrates for Twain just how much cities like St. Paul grew and prospered over the years. The river also highlights decay and decline. Twain laments the decline of the steamboat industry after the Civil War when it is mostly replaced by the railroad. Twain also laments the fact that the river has changed course, mostly by man-made design, so that cities he once knew are now no longer around or even accessible as the river’s course has changed.

Steamboat pilots are symbolic of freedom and the American Dream for Twain. As a child, Twain wanted nothing more than to leave his small town and become a pilot, being free to travel the world. Though he initially wanted to go to the Amazon, he trained on the Mississippi and came to love the industry. Pilots were hard workers and fast learners, and, for the most part, epitomized hands-on knowledge and discipline.