Explore the significance of the fight with Quackenbush. Why does it happen? What exactly sets Gene off? How is related to his narrative earlier in the chapter? Why might Quakenbush be so disdainful of Gene? - Earl

Explore the significance of the fight with Quackenbush. Why does it happen? What exactly sets Gene off? How is related to his narrative earlier in the chapter? Why might Quakenbush be so disdainful of Gene?
In A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, Gene starts working as assistant crew manager at Devon at the start of the year. Gene is late to his athletics and so the crew manager, Quackenbush is furious with him. As Gene starts to work, Quackenbush heckles him and and gives him a hard time about his unathletic abilities. As Quackenbush aggravates Gene, Gene says, “You, Quackenbush, don’t know anything about who I am. Listen you maimed son-of-a-bitch...I hit him hard across the face. I didn’t know why for an instant; it was almost as though I were maimed. Then the realization that there was someone who was flashed over me” (79). 
Since, Quackenbush repeatedly says “maimed” to Gene, he becomes paranoid and worried that he might know the truth about what happened at the tree. After hearing this word, Gene fight’s Quackenbush on behalf of Finny and himself. Gene feels mentally “maimed” because of his guilt after the tree accident, and feels as though Quackenbush may know the truth and is attacking him by using the word multiple times. Quackenbush uses the word to show how Finny is now physically “maimed” which brings Gene’s memory back of the tree accident and how he had caused it which makes him even more paranoid. Knowles purposely uses this essential and hurtful word to remind Gene of his grotesque act and guilt.

  1. How do you think/what will happen during Gene and Quackenbush’s next encounter?
  2. How do you think Gene will cope with being exposed to the fight with Quackenbush and the remainder of his guilt?
  3. Do you think Gene will be too paranoid about his guilt and end up having to talk to Finny again?

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 15, 2020 at 7:36 PM


    I think the reader would expect Gene to cope with this fight by getting in his head. He will overthink things and play it up in his head. Between this and the accident, Gene is going to bottle up the most guilt there has ever been. First, he shakes the branch of the tree and ruins his friend’s leg, but also his dreams in sports. Then, to try to act for his forgiveness by embodying him and fighting someone on his behalf. Gene bottles his secrets and emotions up. Throughout the novel, he has been overthrown by guilt, feelings, and emotions. He plays everything up in his head. Then at one point, Finny will push Gene to the edge without knowing it and Gene will spill everything. Though, I don’t think Gene regrets getting in the fight with Quackenbush. As of now, he is trying to embrace Finny and to be him as an act of trying to ask for his forgiveness. If Finny can’t be Finny then they have to go to the person that knows Finny best, Gene. He took away the one thing that Finny is good at, sports.

    Do you think that Gene will tell Finny about the fight (and not about the accident)?

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 4:56 AM

      I agree with Cassie, and I think that there will be one point in the novel when Finny forces Gene to reveal what happened with Quackenbush. As we see earlier in the novel, Gene’s attempt to come clean to Finny, was unsuccessful. Gene had good intentions going into Finny’s house, but it did not come out in the right way. I think there will be a similar problem when Finny forces the truth out of Gene. Gene will try to explain that he was doing it as a way to represent Finny, however it will be an unsuccessful attempt.
      How do you think Finny would have responded if he was being “bullied” by Quackenbush?

      Delete
    2. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 9:12 AM

      Unlike Gene, Finny is very charismatic and has yet to fall on the bad side of a teacher at Devon. Throughout the novel we have seen Finny talk his way out of conflicts and issues with his superiors. If Finny was put in the same situation as Gene, he would not have had enough resentment toward Quackenbush, and if he did, he would have found a way to de-escalate the situation using his wit. Gene has been struggling to cope with his guilt and anger towards himself and Finny, this altercation with Quackenbush was his breaking point, which is why it ended in violence. Finny, not having this guilt would not have taken it personally and there would not be any altercation to report.
      Do you think Gene's actions were justified?

      Delete
  2. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 9:06 AM

    I think Quackenbush is bring back the accident into Gene's head and making him think about it more. It seems to always be in Gene's mind, but nothing physical happens to make him think of it, until now when he has gotten into a fight. Having the fight is different than walking past a tree and thinking of Finny. It doesn't seem like Quackenbush knows about what happened with Finny, but Gene thinks he does, feeling like he needs to defend him. Almost like he is trying to make it up for when he pushed him. When Finny calls him, I think it may reassure Gene that they are still friends and maybe things can go back to being like the summer session, but things won't be the same.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 1:28 PM

    I agree with Cassie and Bridget that Gene will eventually tell Finny the truth about the fight. Whether Quackenbush meant to bring back guilt from the accident or not he does. Gene tends to have trouble letting things go as well as coping with his emotions. Gene's emotions around the accident are so overwhelming that it is unlikely Gene will immediately let the fight go. The fight and the guilt will likely consume him for some time until he can summon the same courage he had when he first tried to tell Finny about the truth of the accident.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 9:35 PM

    Gene's actions can be justified in this situation because he has a lot circling around his head. His head is filled with sorrow, guilt, and anger -- emotions one would relate more to winter than summer and the Naguamsett River than the Devon River. I believe John Knowles purposefully had this event happen at the start of winter because it shows a significant change in the novel. Gene was only trying to help out and be a manager for the crew team, but Quackenbush had to stir up an attitude for no reason against him. Quackenbush called him 'maimed' which reminded Gene about how he maimed Finny. Although it was unintentional, calling someone disabled because they would rather manage a team than play for it is nothing but disrespectful. Since Finny is gone, Gene has to stand up for himself more because he doesn't have that athletic and popular kid he can lean on to get out of trouble.

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