Finny decides to organize the Winter Carnival for his close friends in hopes that the spirit of fun and joy will erase the image of war and destruction from the Devon school. As we have noticed in earlier chapters, Finny does not believe that the war is real, and that America is not really in danger, as he states, "
The fat old men don't want us crowding them out of their jobs. They've made it all up" (Knowles 115).
Another reason why Finny stages the Winter Carnival is to honor Leper's commitment and the hardships and struggles that he is assumed to be going through at the time. As Leper says, "
You know what? Now I see what racing skiing is all about. It's all right to miss seeing the trees and the countryside and all the other things when you've got to be in a hurry. " (Knowles 125). In this statement, Leper explains how he grows to like downhill skiing and how it is necessary to miss the scenery when you have a purpose. This statement relates to enlisting and the mountain skiing troops, because it illustrates the transition from the peaceful summer Leper, the quiet cross country skier, to the set off, on edge downhill skier of the U.S Army. Finny puts on the Winter Carnival to celebrate the former Leper, and to remember the summer session by simply having a good time.
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