This last paragraph is significant because it demonstrates Gene’s blurred sense of identity. After the news of Finny’s death Gene does not cry, instead he feels a cold chill. Dry-eyed even at Finny’s funeral, Gene reflects on an inescapable feeling, “that [Finny’s funeral] was [his] own funeral, and [one] does not cry in that case” (Knowles, 194). As seen earlier in A Separate Peace Gene blurs his identity with Finny’s when he vows to become “part of Phineas” through sports. Gene also seeks comfort through Finny’s identity as seen when he wears Finny’s pink shirt “I was Phineas...I had no idea why this gave me such intense relief...that I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again” (Knowles, 62). Gene’s sense of comfort while wearing Finny’s clothes may symbolize his desire to become like Finny -- happy and guilt free. And when Finny dies, a part of Gene dies along with him. This passage shows Gene’s tendency to blur his own identity to escape his pain.
Monday, May 13, 2019
Assignment 11: Explain the significance of the last paragraph: "I did not cry then or ever about Finny. I did not cry even when I stood watching him being lowered into his family's strait-laced burial ground outside of Boston. I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case." (Cordelia)
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I agree that a piece of Gene dies along with Finny. Towards the beginning of the novel while their friendship is still going strong, Finny tells Gene, "You never waste your time. That's why I have to do it for you." (Knowles 51) Without Finny, Gene would always follow the rules and get the best grades, but he wouldn't have the same sense of fun and thrill of breaking the rules that he got from being such good friends with Finny. When Finny was sick in the infirmary and while Gene was separating himself from Finny because of his jealousy, Gene got a glimpse of what life without Finny would be like. Now that Finny is dead and gone for good, the fun, adventure-seeking part of Gene has died with Finny.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of my peers ideas about this part of Gene will never be the same, and how his actions will stay with him forever. Gene's voice in the book changed ever since Finny's death, almost this tone or perspective is lost in his character. Gene is in very much shock and is not the same clearly after the news.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what Cordelia said towards the end when he wore the pink shirt he felt like finny although to me the quote that she used towards the end, “I was Phineas...I had no idea why this gave me such intense relief...that I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again” (Knowles, 62). In my opinion i feel like since Gene has been that jealous friend for so long once the person he is jealous of is gone he can replace him and be like him. I feel like Gene is being selfish in this situation it feels almost as if his goal was to kill Finny before when he jiggled the branch. He tried to get rid of Finny and now that finny is gone it's a major relief for him.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all of my peers of how Gene is totally a different person without Finny. I also think that the separate peace comes from when Finny is away for Gene. Gene kind of sees Finny as his enemy at this time of the book so every time he's away from Finny he isn't on guard for Finny to attack him or bring him down. When Finny is gone after the tree incident the day of his arrival you can see a huge change in Gene's mindset about the war. Gene was actually considering leaving everything behind and just enlisting, before Gene never really talked about the war. "I felt thrill when he said it. This was the logical climax of the whole misbegotten day..."(Knowles 100). I think that when Finny is gone Gene is able to be himself without having to compare or compete against Finny.
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