The Winter Carnival was organized for a few reasons. Finny thought it would be a good way to get out side and have some fun but also wanted to get the students of Devon out of their depression mode. Finny wants to celebrate winter, or says so in order to cheer the kids up. After hearing Gene talking about how terrible the weather is, "When the snow has lost its novelty and shine.......dirty water seeping down pipes.....Frozen judd beneath the snow (128)," Finny decides to create the winter Carnival. deplaned to have ski gums and courses, games and hard apple cider. Gene later said, "Only Phineas failed to see what was so depressing (128)," which in a way shows how Finny has become more mature, Making the best of the weather. Another way he have seen him mature is him considering others. He didn't have to create a Winter Carnival for everyone. Instead he could have gone out and had fun by himself or with finny to cheer him up, but he considered everyone and wanters everyone to cheer up. Knowls shows the reader that Finny is not selfish which shows maturity.
The carnival was a great way to have some fun and enjoy the snow even though the weather wasn't all that great, "The Saturday was battleship grey (131)." The student may have had a little too much fun with the over consumption of the hard apple cider. The Carnival brought the students closer together and helped reflect on devon and the friends that they made and friends that went off to war as well.
Do you think the Winter Carnival cheered Gene up?
Do you think the Winter Carnival could have been a symbol for something greater?
Do you think Finny felt good about himself after the Winter Carnival?
How do you think the Winter Carnival connects to the war?
