Assignment #11 (178-194): Explain what Gene means when he says, "Phineas, you wouldn't be any good in the war, even if nothing had happened to your leg." Do you think this is true? Why?

            When Gene said, "Phineas, you wouldn't be any good in the war, even if nothing had happened to your leg" (Knowles 190), he meant that Finny was too friendly and innocent for the brutality of the war. Gene thought that Finny would not understand the rules of battle. “Next thing anyone knew you’d be over with the Germans or the Japs, asking if they’d like to field a baseball team against our side” (Knowles 190). Finny would be in denial about assault and killing, and he might pity the enemy, which Gene knew would not end well. “You’d make a mess, a terrible mess, Finny, out of the war” (Knowles 191). This statement would be logical as Finny was soft-hearted and preferred problem solving to violence. Gene favored this kind side of Finny, but realized that it was not fit for conflict.