In chapter 8 of A Separate Peace by John Knowles Finny returns. At the beginning of the chapter Brinker comes to ask Gene if he will go enlist with him. Finny seems shocked and a bit disappointed, "'You thought you might sign up?" he went on, looking carefully away" (Knowles 107). To me it seems that Finny is a bit jealous that Gene was thinking about enlisting without him. Later Gene realizes that "In some way he needed me" (Knowles 108). Once Jean realizes this, he has a sudden change of heart. "The war then passed away from me, and dreams of enlistment and escape and a clean start lost their meaning to me" (Knowles 108). This shows that in their friendship they are willing to make sacrifices for each other and to compromise with their decisions. This is not unusual in certain circumstances, but this strikes me a bit strange in this situation. I think that Gene might realize that Finny does know or choses not to believe that Gene jounced the limb. Due to this Gene realizes that Finny doesn't hate him, so there is no reason to leave and nothing to run away from. Also in their friendship there is jealousy. Finny becomes jealous that Gene would want to enlist with Brinker and without him, "'He wouldn't enlist with you, " Finny plunged in, "'if you were Madame Chiang Kai-shek" (Knowles 108). This friendship is a bit strange for me. Do you think it's right of Gene to treat Brinker so poorly, on page 108, just because Finny returned?
-Carly Newell
Gene’s relationship with Finny was stronger and more trusting than his friendship with Brinker. “Brinker’s always getting there first. Enlist! What a nutty idea. It’s just Brinker wanting to get there first again” (Knowles 108). Gene blamed the enlisting idea on Brinker in order to make Finny feel better. In order to make Finny not mad at him, Gene was willing to make Brinker angry. If he had to pick one friend as his closest, Gene would choose Finny, as they had a deeper bond. Brinker was new to the group, and Gene did not find him as devoted a friend as Finny was to him.
ReplyDeleteGene and Finny's relationship can not survive without them equally willing to give things up for the other. They have been through so much together, and since they are best friends, they can't survive without the other by their side. Gene doesn't feel completely right when he's alone at Devon, but when Finny comes back, "peace had come back to me," (Knowles 109). When Finny acted so taken aback at the though Gene would enlist and leave him, Gene realized "Phineas was shocked at the idea of me leaving. In some ways he needed me," (Knowles 108). They both complete the other, and neither of them would know what to do if they other left.
ReplyDeleteAlthough their relationship might be tumultuous, Finny and Gene need each other to survive. Gene started off the winter session at Devon with consuming feelings of guilt for what he did to Finny and a dread for what might become of it. These feelings of guilt and suspence drove Gene to an almost secluded, paranoid lifestyle. He mostly kept to himself while constantly being reminded of Finny and the accident that abruptly ended their Summer Session together. As Gene was forced to deal with his guilt alone, he grew to wish that he could sever all ties with his painful past by joining the War. However, when Finny returns appearing to be almost unharmed, Gene sees with relief that his actions did not lead to life-shattering consequences. Things are the way they should be– Finny and Gene are friends again. Gene explains, “I didn’t know why he had chosen me… I didn’t care” (Knowles 109). Gene is now needed by Finny, and this sense of purpose has relieved some of his guilt and given him a reason to stay and not abandon his previous life.
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