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?
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ReplyDeleteI also think that Gene is afraid of accepting that he is lost in society, and this affects his actions. Gene embarks on an adventure to go to Leper in Vermont. Once he arrives, he immediately realizes how the war has negatively impacted Leper. He states, "fear seized my stomach like a cramp. I didn't care what I said to him now; it was myself I was worried about," (144). Gene realizes here, that the war is no place he can go to escape his problems. Gene has been craving to enlist, so he can escape his lies. He is lost because he doesn't know what to do about the Finny situation, and is overwhelmed with emotions. Now he doesn't have a place to escape where his problems will go away, and where he will not be so lost. Overall this causes Gene to fear being lost (more than before) and leads to the event of him knocking over Leper's chair.