"Nothing endures, not a tree, not love, not even death by violence" (Knowles 14). Gene revisits his campus fifteen years after he graduated, as it holds a deeper meaning to himself. Gene's guilt doesn't bear heavily on top of his shoulders anymore because he accepted his fault. Killing one's innocence allows a person to be more mature and at peace, rather than suffering from lingering emotions that happened over a decade ago. Innocence doesn't endure throughout life rather it is eradicated through one's action as a young adult. Finny and Gene's innocence are both tested through symbols in John Knowles's novel. Finny's leg and the game of Blitzball are two symbols that Knowles utilizes to convey this message that killing one's innocence is
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Near the Devon River, Finny athletically surpasses all of his fellow classmates with ease and without boasting his capabilities. "To escape the wolf pack which all the other players became he created reverse and deceptions and acts of shear mass hypnotism which were so extraordinary that they surprised even him; after some of these plays I would notice him chuckling quietly to himself, in a kind of happy disbelief."(Knowles 39). Finny's purity is shown through his shear athleticism with his peers. He is not trying to show off yet to simply enjoy himself. Like any young adult at this moment, Finny is innocent, childish, and not suspecting any harm that he may encounter. The game of Blitzball is played close to the Devon River and as the game progresses it finishes near the riverbanks. The clean Devon river symbolizes the purity and innocence of childhood. Childhood is pure and protected from the realities of the real-world. This playful game shows Finny's youthfulness before his transfer to adulthood. At the winter carnival, his playful and animated spirit weakens, and he forgets athletics, which he holds most dear. "Forgetful of us and the athletic programming Finny now put into motion, he strolled here and there..." (Knowles 135). Phineas, who is the undisputed best athlete at Devon, forgets the athletic program at the winter carnival. A youth who …show more content…
Finny's leg symbolizes the stark realization Phineas had when his best friend caused him to fall off the tree. Gene was left to deal with himself and own up to his action. Another piece of symbolism, being Blitzball, shows Phineas's emotions weaken near the two rivers. Finny's enthusiasm and shear goodness thrives in Blitzball near the Devon River, but weakens at the winter carnival at the Naguamsett River. The Devon River symbolizes the good nature and innocence of childhood, while the Naguamsett represents the dark realities of life that every young adult must accept. One cruel reality teenagers face in the foreseeable future is the action of friends betraying another friend by leaving them mentally stranded. The impression of being excluded by a group of friends is one of humanity's worst feelings as a young adult, yet it is inevitable. All young adults will be faced with the darkness of reality. On a global scale, wars and acts of random violence threaten the lives of countless people. World War II was hidden away from the boys, in John Knowles's book until the realities and truths of the war penetrated all of the characters. Knowles uses symbolism to prepare young adults for the dark horrors of humanity as well as providing examples as to why killing one's innocence is a crucial step in reaching
Near the Devon River, Finny athletically surpasses all of his fellow classmates with ease and without boasting his capabilities. "To escape the wolf pack which all the other players became he created reverse and deceptions and acts of shear mass hypnotism which were so extraordinary that they surprised even him; after some of these plays I would notice him chuckling quietly to himself, in a kind of happy disbelief."(Knowles 39). Finny's purity is shown through his shear athleticism with his peers. He is not trying to show off yet to simply enjoy himself. Like any young adult at this moment, Finny is innocent, childish, and not suspecting any harm that he may encounter. The game of Blitzball is played close to the Devon River and as the game progresses it finishes near the riverbanks. The clean Devon river symbolizes the purity and innocence of childhood. Childhood is pure and protected from the realities of the real-world. This playful game shows Finny's youthfulness before his transfer to adulthood. At the winter carnival, his playful and animated spirit weakens, and he forgets athletics, which he holds most dear. "Forgetful of us and the athletic programming Finny now put into motion, he strolled here and there..." (Knowles 135). Phineas, who is the undisputed best athlete at Devon, forgets the athletic program at the winter carnival. A youth who …show more content…
Finny's leg symbolizes the stark realization Phineas had when his best friend caused him to fall off the tree. Gene was left to deal with himself and own up to his action. Another piece of symbolism, being Blitzball, shows Phineas's emotions weaken near the two rivers. Finny's enthusiasm and shear goodness thrives in Blitzball near the Devon River, but weakens at the winter carnival at the Naguamsett River. The Devon River symbolizes the good nature and innocence of childhood, while the Naguamsett represents the dark realities of life that every young adult must accept. One cruel reality teenagers face in the foreseeable future is the action of friends betraying another friend by leaving them mentally stranded. The impression of being excluded by a group of friends is one of humanity's worst feelings as a young adult, yet it is inevitable. All young adults will be faced with the darkness of reality. On a global scale, wars and acts of random violence threaten the lives of countless people. World War II was hidden away from the boys, in John Knowles's book until the realities and truths of the war penetrated all of the characters. Knowles uses symbolism to prepare young adults for the dark horrors of humanity as well as providing examples as to why killing one's innocence is a crucial step in reaching