Finny and Gene’s conversation about enlisting reveals that Gene is a better friend when he feels that Finny needs him. Throughout the book, Gene feels like he’s not as important as Finny and does not have as big a leadership role at Devon. During this conversation the power of the relationship feels more balanced. Gene notices that Finny does not want him to leave. Finny says, “‘You thought you might sign up?’ he went on, looking carefully away.” (Knowles, 107). This shows that Gene feels like Finny finally needs him and he doesn't want to let Finny down by enlisting when Finny can’t. Even though he was willing to enlist at the end of Chapter Seven, he pretended that it was just a casual thought. “‘It was just something Brinker happened to say last night, that’s all’” (Knowles, 107). Gene is lying because he feels bad for thinking about leaving without thinking about Finny. Later on, Gene was flattered that Finny “wanted (him) around”(Knowles, 108). In A Separate Peace Gene thinks about Finny as a role model, but their relationship is more balanced now that Finny shows some vulnerability towards him. Overall their relationship is shifting towards a more equal friendship.
Do you think that their relationship will continue to grow and make Gene the more powerful one?
Do you think Finny being hurt makes him weaker?
Would Gene have enlisted if Finny had not come back?
I do not think Finny being hurt makes him weaker, I think it just makes Gene stronger. As seen by the running scene and the chin up scene in this chapter, Finny lives through Gene. In the gym, Finny reveals his dream to enter the '44 olympics, which are crushed the injury. Finny explains, "well I was. And now I'm not sure, not a hundred percent sure I'll be completely, you know, in shape by 1944. So I'm going to coach you for them instead" (117). Finny'd dreams have moved on to Gene, and so far he is proving well. I think it will be interesting to see how this plays out and if Gene will really drop his dreams and devote himself to Finny's.
ReplyDeleteI think that another spot where Gene shows his friendship with Finny and its strength is at the end of chapter 9. Gene has just decided that he is going to enlist when Finny shows up. He says, "Everything that has happened throughout the day faded like that first false snowfall of the winter" (Knowles 102). This shows how, over anything else, Gene prioritizes his friendship with Finny. Though he and Brinker had discussed and committed to enlisting the next day, Gene let it "fade" away due to Finny coming back. I also think that this quote shows how if Finny hadn't have returned to Devon, that Gene would have enlisted.
ReplyDeleteWhen Brinker comes into Gene's room he doesn't know that Finny has returned. Finny being back at Devon shifts the conversation about enlisting from the honest and sincere conversation that Gene and Brinker had to a sarcastic, incredulous conversation between the three boys. Once Gene realizes that Finny may need him at Devon for both physical support during his recovery and emotional support, he jumps sarcastically into the conversation directed back at Brinker about enlisting with Finny.."I wouldn't enlist with you if you were General MacArthur's eldest son!...Enlist!... I wouldn't enlist with you if you were Elliott Roosevelt" (p.108). I believe that Finny and Gene are mutually dependent on each other, and that one can't survive at Devon without the other regardless of how competitive and different they are. In fact, it was only after a few weeks of being back on campus without Finny, that Gene thought about and decided to enlist. Now with Finny back on campus, that idea seems to be a fleeting one for Gene.
ReplyDeleteI also wrote about this in my blog and agree with your statements. This reveals a lot about their friendship and shows how their friendship contrasts each other sometimes. I think this is now contrasting because I think Finny is jealous Gene can go to war still now that he can’t. I see this happening when it says, "”Enlist!” cried Finny at the same time. His large and clear eyes turned with an odd expression on me,”(Knowles 107). I see this as Finny being shocked by Genes decision and is now angry he is missing out. Finny was always popular and never missed out, but now that he can’t go to war he is missing out.
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