Brooke Graves: Pages 123-137 - Question 3 (Why does Finny organize the Winter Carnival? Why is this significant? What is the impact and symbolism of the Winter Carnival?)

          Finny organizes the winter carnival to enforce his control over rebellious actions and to recreate his life before his injury. One day, Gene explained how dreary and hopeless winters are and how awful the weather is. Phineas didn't see winter in the same way as Gene and wanted to plan something for the next Saturday. He suggested that they have a winter carnival. There had never been a winter carnival at Devon and Brinker even says, "Still, there's never been a Winter Carnival here. I think there's probably a rule against it," (Knowles 130). Finny liked to not follow the rules, and he liked having absolute control. Before his injury he had organized the game of blitzball and the Super Suicide Society. In these two groups / games Finny had created the rule in the same way he had while giving instructions while organizing the winter carnival. It excited Finny to have some of the control back that he had had before his injury. Finny also had created peaceful moments that took place before his injury. He had stood on top of the prize table on one leg and had almost recreated his balancing act in the canoe from the summer on the Devon. This carnival is significant because it shows how the boys are evolving, times have changed since the summer, and they are moving into adulthood. This is because Finny said, "We'll have it int hat park next to the Naguamsett," (Knowles 129). This shows that Finny wanted the carnival to be held at the marshy and dirty Naguamsett and not the clear Devon of the summer. Even Finny's fun is moving toward the outside world, like the salty Naguamsett that flows in tot he sea. The Devon, so calm and clear, is no longer a place for the boys, instead they now play near a river that will carry them to the sea, and adulthood. This connected to the poem On Turning Ten, by Billy Collins, because in this poem the speaker has realized that they aren't a child anymore and that they won't be able to enjoy things of their childhood any longer. This is similar to Finny because he has realized that the Devon is no longer a place for them to play. Finny organizes the winter carnival to relive his life before his injury, but he has also realized that life has changed greatly and that he isn't a kid anymore.

Do you think that Finny enjoyed his life before his injury, or that he is excited about moving into adulthood? Why?