The undertones of Finny and Gene’s first conversation upon Finny’s arrival are, “avoiding reality”. The two friends are trying hard to ignore the reason why Finny wasn’t at school for the Fall Session, and instead, are talking about clothing choice and how Finny should never have left Gene so he wouldn’t have to dress himself. When Finny and Gene first see each other, Finny exclaims, “Where did you get those clothes?”(Knowles 103). Finny didn’t waste any time before saying this quote because he didn’t want to give time to a possible other conversation. Their first conversation in a way is quite similar to the phone conversation the two friends had, right at the beginning of the fall session. The two conversations are similar because during both, the two friends are ignoring reality and the trauma their friendship has recently experienced.
I agree with Sophia that both Finny and Gene were trying to not face reality. I think during this scene each boy had their own “elephant in the room” that they were trying to hide. Gene was probably trying to hide the reality that he wanted to enlist but also the remaining guilt he felt from being the cause of Finny’s injury. Finny was probably trying to hide his F.O.M.O. with athletics as well as his realization of Gene’s importance in his life. I feel like this scene was very realistic. I have definitely been in a similar situation where both parties are trying to avoid talking about the obvious “elephant in the room”. I think I could best relate with Gene’s sarcastic line of “Glad to hear you like it” (Knowles 104). In an awkward situation like this one, it is easiest to resort to sarcasm. I think Gene said this because sarcasm keeps the conversation lighthearted while acknowledging that they aren’t strangers and are relatively comfortable with each other.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sophia and Alisa that Gene and Finny are not willing to face their past and reality. I think that Gene and Finny trying to pretend the accident never occurred. This along with sarcasm is very realistic. Their conversation is full of small talk, avoiding their questions and concerns. Both characters seem held back and are remembering their feelings of guilt and hurt. For example Finny complains about having no maids and Gene reflects "these past months Phineas and I had grown apart on this. I felt a certain disapproval of him grumbling about a lost luxury, with a war on" (Knowles, 104) showing their different views. I think that this first conversation shows how much as changed between them, and is very realistic, considering what they have been through.
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