Coming-Of-Age: Powder By Tobias Wolff

Coming-of-Age “Powder” Analysis
In the short story "Powder" written by Tobias Wolff the protagonist, a young boy, Criminy psychologically matures during a skiing trip with his spontaneous reckless father. The pivotal point in the story is when Criminy drags one of the sawhorses aside so his father can drive the car through, then puts it back before they speed down the dangerous roads to make it to Christmas dinner on time. Criminy for the first time in his life broke a rule and did it unknowingly by the guidance of his father. At this moment in the story, he realizes that he cannot plan the unexpected. He decides to stop moping and enjoy himself because he no longer has control of the situation. It is evident that Criminy was able to mentally …show more content…
"He'd had to fight for the privilege of my company because my mother was still angry with him for sneaking me into a nightclub during his last visit to see Thelonious Monk" (----). The mother is not a main character of the story but her strict personality effects Criminy and his relationship with his father. She did forgive her husband when he took Criminy into a night club to see the famous jazz pianist. Criminy is put into a difficult situation having to spend time with both parents separately but it is clear that he puts in no effort to spend time with his father. When the father is finally given the approval to go skiing, Criminy is constantly worried about the time and is nervous when he can no longer see the trail. The father's jazz like personality, that is full of improvising and is considered a fast-moving lifestyle tends to contrast with Criminy's uneasy and stressed mind. This is proven when the trooper tells them the road is closed (----). The son responds in an unforgiving tone "We should have left before" (----). Criminy's biggest fear of not getting home on time causes him to give his father a disapproving attitude but this changes once the two agree they both would like their family to be together again. After this happens mood of the short story shifts like the threatening weather. The wind begins to stop and the snow becomes lighter, this foreshadows a …show more content…
The symbolic meaning of the barricade is the son’s anxiety that stands in the way of the father and son’s relationship. At this moment, Criminy begins to develop physiologically from a boy who criticized his father for being different than him, into an understanding son who accepts his childlike behavior. Criminy starts to refer to him as “My father” (---) making their relationship more personal. Not only does Criminy begin to show that he cares for his father, but also that he is proud to be his son “He was a great driver. All persuasion, no coercion. Such subtlety at the wheel, such tactful pedal work. I actually trusted him” (----). Criminy understands his father’s behavior once he realizes how enjoyable life is “Except maybe to say this: if you haven’t driven fresh powder, you haven’t driven” (---). The father gave his son the best Christmas gift of all, an experience Criminy was able to enjoy without panicking about what would happen