Travis is a boy eager to assume the responsibilities of a man. His character has many traits of being childish, but he is trying to be mature and more adult like now that his "papa" is gone. Being the man gives him more freedom, because he can now try on his fathers shoes. There are occasions in the story where he becomes a man to a boy then a boy to a man. Old Yeller lets Travis plays two roles because at times he has to hunt, protect the cornfield,mark the hogs which makes him a man. Yet at other times he just plays around with him like a boys best friend. But at the end when Travis has to kill Yeller he is no longer a boy. He will always be a mature adult like person.