Thimble Summer

Through Garnet’s journey of emotional growth, Enright explores the crucial role of imagination and adventure in children’s character development. The story suggests that childhood is a period of joy, hope, and excitement, and these traits are crucial for self-fulfillment. Garnet is a young girl with a vivid imagination and curiosity about the world. She constantly observes her surroundings while simultaneously daydreaming about traveling to new and faraway places. While on the farm, Garnet thinks of places like the Alps and the Highlands, often possessed by a “far-off feeling” (10). Driven by her innate need for exploration, Garnet finds solace in stories. As Mr. Freebody notes, she is a “genuine bookworm,” as reading offers her the ability to transcend the limitations of her life in a small, rural town plagued by the economic crisis. Therefore, Garnet expresses feelings of escapism. 

While yearning for discoveries, Garnet also applies her youthful imagination to ordinary things in her immediate world. For instance, she compares the barn to a castle, her father’s tractor to a dinosaur, and the kiln’s door to an “eye of a dragon” (38). This symbolic thinking further reinforces her creativity and unique perspective. Inspired by the nature around her, Garnet yearns for more knowledge of the outside world.