Gene attacks Leper because he accuses him of causing Finny's fall, but also because Leper reveals to Gene that there truly is a savage underneath his "good boy" exterior. When Gene goes to visit Leper in Vermont after receiving his telegram, he finds that Leper has been suffering from mental breakdowns ever since he "escaped" from the army. While they were talking, Leper suddenly begins to laugh hysterically, exclaiming to Gene, "'You were always a savage underneath... like that time you knocked Finny out of the tree... like that time you crippled him for life'" (Knowles 145). Hearing this causes Gene to let his emotions to take him over and he knocked Leper's chair over. Initially, he reacts instinctively, out of fear of being judged, not wanting for people to know that he caused Finny's fall. However, he beings to realize that he truly "'always [was] a savage underneath'" (Knowles 145). His emotions during this scene also mirror the feelings and emotions of war; acting instinctively to protect themselves and not worrying about the repercussions that would come with their actions. He sees the effect of warfare on Leper, mentally. During this moment, Gene also realizes how conflicted he is as a person, with his own inner war. He is confused, hurt, angry, and fearful all at the same time. He is so afraid of what is to come next for him that he has boxed himself in, not wanting for anyone to breach his bubble of the Devon School. Leper's accusation of Gene purposely pushing Finny upsets him, and causes him to attack Leper, while also fully realizing his own true nature.
Questions to Consider:
1. What do you make of this scene? Do you think Gene is afraid of accepting himself?
2. Do you think that Leper truly thinks that Gene pushed Finny out, or is this just one of mental breakdowns and means nothing?
3. Do you think it was right for Gene to act so impulsively and aggressively for Leper's comment?
I think this type of impulsive action can be linked back to Gene's actions in the tree. Here, we see Gene feel attacked and Leper gets a little to close for Gene to feel comfortable. So, Gene makes a quick fast judgement to protect himself and knock Leper over. He made Leper in this scene, and throughout this whole encounter, to be Gene's "enemy". This concept of "enemy" can relate back to Gene conjuring Finny into his enemy during the summer session. Knowles writes, "I felt better. We were even after all, even in enmity. The deadly rivalry was on both sides after all" (54). Gene created Finny to be his "enemy" and then in turn made another quick impulse decision to jostle the limb.
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