Theodore Dreiser's Paragraph of Winter in Devon

During winter at Devon things get strict, acrimonious, and sometimes depressing. There are no sports to play, people get mad at each other, and many of the academics get more strict. Also, because summer was so relaxing, it was difficult to get back on track for the winter. For instance, Gene says that Devon had "slipped through their fingers during the warm, overlooked months." Gene is stating that people at Devon started getting to relaxed during the summer. Gene also mentions that traditions had been broken, the standards were let down, and all the rules were forgotten. Since all these rules were forgotten and the standards were let down, the boys were going to have trouble during the winter. Also, the winter at Devon made the boys angry.

"'Well, it doesn't matter.'

'Yes it matters.'

' I don't think it does.'

'Go to hell Forrester. Who the hell are you anyway.'

I turned with an inward groan to look at him"

Gene and Quackenbush start to argue which leads to a fight.

"'You, Quackenbush, don't know anything about who i am, or anything else.'

'Listen you maimed son-of-a-bitch...'

I hit him hard across the face."

The boys at Devon get angry at each other, probably because of the stress of winter.