"I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy ... my war ended before I ever put on a uniform; I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there"(204).
I absolutely love this quote, because it shows the definite maturity in Gene. On the previous page, he states that he's ready for war because Finny "absorbed" the hatred in him. And I actually believe Finny absorbed it, because as Gene grew to become a better person, Finny decreased to a bitter person. Finny would not have survived in combat. Gene's biggest enemy was himself and he defeated it prior to entering the war. This is why he was on active duty at school; he had been fighting this uncontrollable and tempered side of him. And because he was so fortunate to have Finny as his best friend, he was able to be free of any hate.
Had Finny's death not occurred, would this still be the same outcome?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
ASP - Ch. 12
"I ... found a blanket and gave it to Phil Latham. He carefully wrapped it around Phineas. I would have liked very much to have done that myself; it would have meant a lot to me" (179).
I think I know why wrapping the blanket around Phineas would mean so much to Gene. Wrapping a blanket around someone as injured as Finny is giving them support & comfort; something Gene is not well in accomplishing. After Finny's fatal fall, all he needed was an optimistic friend letting him know everything was going to be okay. Instead, Gene chose the wrong time to tell Finny the truth which just made the situation worse than it was. I don't think Gene understood (til now) how much of Finny's world became shattered and ultimately he was not a great friend. So wrapping this blanket around Finny would be the first time that Gene actually comforted Finny in a time of distress.
What sparked Finny's breaking point?
I think I know why wrapping the blanket around Phineas would mean so much to Gene. Wrapping a blanket around someone as injured as Finny is giving them support & comfort; something Gene is not well in accomplishing. After Finny's fatal fall, all he needed was an optimistic friend letting him know everything was going to be okay. Instead, Gene chose the wrong time to tell Finny the truth which just made the situation worse than it was. I don't think Gene understood (til now) how much of Finny's world became shattered and ultimately he was not a great friend. So wrapping this blanket around Finny would be the first time that Gene actually comforted Finny in a time of distress.
What sparked Finny's breaking point?
ASP - Ch. 12
"I ... found a blanket and gave it to Phil Latham. He carefully wrapped it around Phineas. I would have liked very much to have done that myself; it would have meant a lot to me" (179).
I think I know why wrapping the blanket around Phineas would mean so much to Gene. Wrapping a blanket around someone as injured as Finny is giving them support & comfort; something Gene is not well in accomplishing. After Finny's fatal fall, all he needed was an optimistic friend letting him know everything was going to be okay. Instead, Gene chose the wrong time to tell Finny the truth which just made the situation worse than it was. I don't think Gene understood (til now) how much of Finny's world became shattered and ultimately he was not a great friend. So wrapping this blanket around Finny would be the first time that Gene actually comforted Finny in a time of distress.
What sparked Finny's breaking point?
I think I know why wrapping the blanket around Phineas would mean so much to Gene. Wrapping a blanket around someone as injured as Finny is giving them support & comfort; something Gene is not well in accomplishing. After Finny's fatal fall, all he needed was an optimistic friend letting him know everything was going to be okay. Instead, Gene chose the wrong time to tell Finny the truth which just made the situation worse than it was. I don't think Gene understood (til now) how much of Finny's world became shattered and ultimately he was not a great friend. So wrapping this blanket around Finny would be the first time that Gene actually comforted Finny in a time of distress.
What sparked Finny's breaking point?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
ASP - Ch. 11
"I felt, a sense of my own real authority and worth, I had had many new experiences and I was growing up" (156).
This right here contrasts the Gene we've known since we picked up the book. Primarily, Phineas was Gene's "authority". If Finny told Gene to jump (this can also be taken literally), Gene would ask how high. And a personality so submissive makes the reader doubt that Gene has any purpose or worth. In this quote, I believe he is finally finding himself. The fact that he concludes this by saying he was growing makes me smile. He has grown and the best part is that he knows it. Everyone encounters different situations from which they learn from and Gene is no different. Gene needed to do what he did to Finny, Quackenbush, and Leper to realize that he needed to mature. Fortunately, he is becoming a better person.
Did Leper smirk at Gene to provoke him in an attempt to seek revenge?
When Finny is explaining what happened that day, he goes from saying that Gene was not in the tree but then quickly changes his statements and telling them that Gene was in the tree with him. Why does he do this?
This right here contrasts the Gene we've known since we picked up the book. Primarily, Phineas was Gene's "authority". If Finny told Gene to jump (this can also be taken literally), Gene would ask how high. And a personality so submissive makes the reader doubt that Gene has any purpose or worth. In this quote, I believe he is finally finding himself. The fact that he concludes this by saying he was growing makes me smile. He has grown and the best part is that he knows it. Everyone encounters different situations from which they learn from and Gene is no different. Gene needed to do what he did to Finny, Quackenbush, and Leper to realize that he needed to mature. Fortunately, he is becoming a better person.
Did Leper smirk at Gene to provoke him in an attempt to seek revenge?
When Finny is explaining what happened that day, he goes from saying that Gene was not in the tree but then quickly changes his statements and telling them that Gene was in the tree with him. Why does he do this?
Monday, December 1, 2008
ASP - Ch. 10
"'He's a good boy underneath,' she must have thought, 'a terrible temper, no self-control, but he's sorry, and he is a good boy underneath" (146).
I like this quote because I think this is actually how Gene thinks of himself even though he tries to analyze his personality through the eyes of Leper's mother. It's good that he finally realizes what tragic flaws he has and this is the first time it's been mentioned. And when he apologizes, I think he's not only apologizing to Leper but also his way of saying sorry to Finny and Quackenbush. Here, this description supports what we knew all along. Gene is not a bad person but because of his impulsive actions, he is portrayed as a terrible person and friend.
Is Leper really psycho?
I like this quote because I think this is actually how Gene thinks of himself even though he tries to analyze his personality through the eyes of Leper's mother. It's good that he finally realizes what tragic flaws he has and this is the first time it's been mentioned. And when he apologizes, I think he's not only apologizing to Leper but also his way of saying sorry to Finny and Quackenbush. Here, this description supports what we knew all along. Gene is not a bad person but because of his impulsive actions, he is portrayed as a terrible person and friend.
Is Leper really psycho?
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