Re-read the last sentence of chapter 6 (p84-85). Explain what is happening in the quote (establish context) and then explore and explain the last part “I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become part of Phineas” (85). -Lewis-Pierce

4.) Re-read the last sentence of chapter 6 (p84-85). Explain what is happening in the quote (establish context)
 and then explore and explain the last part “I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom 
revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become part of Phineas” (85).

 In the book A Separate Peace, the author John Knowles uses Gene's guilt of hurting Finny as a way to make 
Finny control Gene. When the master Mr. Ludsbury tells Gene there is a call for him in his study, he is 
surprised to see it is from Finny. They small talk for a bit until Finny says, "'Listen pal, if I can't play sports, 
you're going to play them for me,'" when then Gene reflects this, "and I've lost part of myself to him then, and 
a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of 
Phineas"(Knowles 85). There is two levels to this thought: One is that Gene feels guilty about shaking the 
branch and leaving Finny unable to play sports, and so he feels obliged to play sports now that Finny has asked 
him to. Whether Finny knows this guilt exists or not is not clear to the reader, but I think he doesn't, as Finny
 doesn't seem the type of character to purposely control a friend of his, and Finny apologizes for even thinking 
Gene did it on purpose. The second level to this thought is the section that says "and a soaring sense of 
freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first"(Knowles 85). Over the summer when 
Gene was struggling in his mind about wanting to be better than Finny, he now realizes it wasn't to overcome 
Finny, but to become him. Another theory for this revelation is that this "purpose from the first"(Knowles 85) 
actually started when Finny fell off the branch, and Gene's path to becoming right with Finny again is to take 
his place.

 Do you think this "purpose from the first"(Knowles 85) started at the beginning of summer or when Finny fell 
off the branch?

 Is there significance is Gene using the word Phineas instead of Finny in his thought?

 Do you think Finny is trying to control Gene or is oblivious to Gene's guilt?

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 10:08 AM

    I think that there is a lot of significance and reason behind Gene calling Finny by his true name, Phineas, which helps to show the direction that their friendship is going into. Firstly, this quick moment is extremely important, because it shows the moment when Gene unconsciously accepts the fact that his and Finny’s relationship is never going to be the same. Throughout the entire novel, Gene has constantly been calling Phineas by his nickname, Finny. Although it’s not a very noticeable factor of their relationship, it’s still important, and shows the strength that it once was. He even refers to him as Finny on page 69, right before his confession. But since then, there’s been a shift in the strength of their friendship, and how they view each other, which is why Gene switched to calling him Phineas. This passage is strange though, because while he is starting to shift away from Finny, he also has a realization that he should move closer. At the end of the reading, he says, “this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas” (Knowles 85). So while he calls him Phineas, he also decides he wants to almost become one with him. This will most likely create conflict for Gene later on, when he’s deciding which path he’ll take.

    Which path do you think Gene will take?
    How do you think he’ll “become a part of Phineas”?
    Do you think their relationship will ever return to what it was?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 2:30 PM

      I agree with Ethan that Gene calling Finny by his real name is showing how there relationship will never be the same again. The significance of this is that by calling Finny by his real name Gene is almost acting more "proper" about Finny now that they will never be as close as they us too. I think that at the end of the chapter when Gene said he was going to "become a part of Phineas" this means that he was going to try and follow the footsteps that Finny was going to peruse. A main part of that is the sports that Finny played. So I predict by following in Finny's shoes he is going to try and be really good at a sport just like Finny was at football. Lastly from one of Ethan's questions I don't think that there relationship will ever be the same. After the incident I don't think that they will ever be able to be as good of friends as they use too.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 10:08 AM

    I think Gene using the word Phineas instead of Finny may be significant. I think this could mean that they definitely grew apart like some high school friendships do but there may be more behind it. I think this could be because Gene found something out but something definitely happened. Also it could be that since this is a coming of age story it maybe that after so many year Gene has matured and thinks that nicknames are very childish.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 12:40 PM

    I think that Gene is trying to honor Finny by acting in ways he would. His guilt is so overwhelming, that his identity will likely be temporarily lost to Finny. Finny definitely knows how guilty Gene fells, as seen when Gene visits his house, but accepting his guilt would be to accepts its cause, which Finny is steadfastly ignoring. If something more were to happen, or some new information were to come to light, then Finny might begin to use this power in the form of revenge. But this is unlikely now, as he still sees Gene as his closest friend. At the begging of the novel Gene expresses that he is lucky that someone as popular as Finny chooses to be friends with him, but in Finny's phone call he is desperate to know that he has not been replaced as Gene's best friend. In an effort to maintain their friendship, Finny attempt to live vicariously through Gene, as an effort to maintain relevance in his old best friend’s life while they are apart. Gene, a very loyal person, feels obligated and in Finny's debt so will likely not leave him behind even if he begins to feel controlled by Finny.

    Will Finny accept that Gene, by acting like him, is actually guilty?

    ReplyDelete
  4. leilabpApril 16, 2020 at 1:13 PM

    I don't think Finny is trying to control Gene at all. I believe he's just trying to be his happy and playful self. Although he does say that Gene should tryout for sports because he can no longer participate in them, I don't believe he was intended to control Gene's life. Finny knows nothing about Gene's guilt and constant overthinking; he has no reason to. As far as Finny believes, Gene didn't do anything to cause him to fall and he shattered his leg because of a complete accident. As the book continues to progress, and Gene and Finny are separate for longer, I believe that Gene will try to "become a part of Phineas." By becoming part of him, Gene can cope with his overwhelming guilt that it was his fault. He can also start to deal with his long lasting jealously that we see at the beginning of the novel. All in all, I believe that "becoming" Finny or at least taking inspiration from him, will help Gene deal with his past and be more ready for what's the come in the future.

    Do you think that Gene actually meant to wiggle the branch or has it become embellished over the 15 years of him dealing with this guilt?

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

    I don’t believe that Finny is trying to control Gene nor is he oblivious to Gene’s guilt. Finny just doesn’t realize that by denying that Gene pushed him out of the tree, he is putting a burden on Gene. The book is all from Gene’s point of view, so Finny is depicted as manipulative and controlling. It’s obvious that Gene is under a lot of pressure and that Finny is in denial, not wanting to believe what Gene is telling him. I agree with Leila, that distance apart from each other will change Gene’s perspective on Finny but I also think that Finny has to start listening to him. Even if he isn’t trying to be controlling and is oblivious to Gene’s guilt, Finny is hurting Gene even more. This conflict is tearing apart their friendship because when Gene wants to let out his thoughts and feelings, Finny deflects them. They need to face each other and listen to one another, even if it means ruining their friendship forever.

    Do you think that without Gene telling him, Finny will ever realize that he is hurting Gene?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 5:56 PM

      I don't think that Finny will ever realize that he is hurting Gene without someone telling him. Unlike Gene, who realized that he was hurting Finny almost immediately, Finny seems to be trying to make everything normal, or back to the way it was. Because of this, he will likely ignore any signs that anything is wrong, hurting his relationship with Gene even further. He also places another big burden on Gene by telling him that he has to play a sport because Finny can't with his injury. I believe that this could lead to a big point of action where Gene snaps at Finny.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 6:02 PM

    Finny comes off as almost fake, as he seems over enthusiastic about things going on in Gene's life. He is always excited and encouraging to Gene. It's very difficult to tell what Finny's intentions are due to the perspective we hear the story from. Yes, there are many signs that give evidence to the idea that Finny might be manipulating Gene. But you have to remember that we hear these signs from an unreliable first person point of view. We hear only what Gene thinks. Although there are signs that he might be manipulating him, I don't think that's what Finny's intentions are. I think Finny cares about Gene a ton but just doesn't think about how his actions affect Gene. I don't blame Finny for this, because the whole time Gene never really communicates how he feels about the relationship. He just continuously carries on doing things he doesn't want to, which leads to Gene thinking he's getting manipulated. If Gene were to communicate his emotions then I think Finny would definitely change and be supportive.

    By the end of the novel do you think Gene will ever talk to Finny about how he feels about the relationship?

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownApril 16, 2020 at 8:19 PM

    I think Gene saying Phineas instead of Finny is very significant. The first reason is because Gene is starting to mature. Throughout Chapter 6, there are many symbols of Gene’s transitioning into adulthood but because he is reminiscing about summer, he realizes he doesn’t want to anymore. The symbolism of the rivers is the largest example of Gene’s maturity, but as he compares Leper and Brinker and describes Quakenbush are also significant. When Brinker moves into Leper’s old dorm, Gene notices, “the trays of snails which Leper had passed the summer collecting replaced by Brinker’s files...ordinarily he should have been a magnet for me...if the summer, the gypsy days, had not intervened”(75). The snails being replaced by the files represents growing up. Gene says that if the summer never happened he would be happy about Brinker moving in, which shows that he used to be excited about growing up, but now he doesn’t want to anymore because of Finny. Quakenbush is also a symbol because Gene describes him as someone who had matured faster than everyone else. Later in the chapter while they are fighting, Gene realizes, “He has not seen Leper’s snails or the Charter of the Super Suicide Society”(79). Throughout this chapter, Gene realizes that he has always wanted to be mature, but because of Finny he doesn't want to anymore. Gene calling him Phineas shows the slow transition into adulthood. Usually when you are an adult, you don't call your friends by their nicknames. Gene doesn’t want to grow up now, but he is starting to go through the gradual process of becoming an adult.

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousApril 16, 2020 at 8:25 PM

    I think Gene saying Phineas instead of Finny is very significant. The first reason is because Gene is starting to mature. Throughout Chapter 6, there are many symbols of Gene’s transitioning into adulthood but because he is reminiscing about summer, he realizes he doesn’t want to anymore. The symbolism of the rivers is the largest example of Gene’s maturity, but as he compares Leper and Brinker and describes Quakenbush are also significant. When Brinker moves into Leper’s old dorm, Gene notices, “the trays of snails which Leper had passed the summer collecting replaced by Brinker’s files...ordinarily he should have been a magnet for me...if the summer, the gypsy days, had not intervened”(75). The snails being replaced by the files represents growing up. Gene says that if the summer never happened he would be happy about Brinker moving in, which shows that he used to be excited about growing up, but now he doesn’t want to anymore because of Finny. Quakenbush is also a symbol because Gene describes him as someone who had matured faster than everyone else. Later in the chapter while they are fighting, Gene realizes, “He has not seen Leper’s snails or the Charter of the Super Suicide Society”(79). Throughout this chapter, Gene realizes that he has always wanted to be mature, but because of Finny he doesn't want to anymore. Gene calling him Phineas shows the slow transition into adulthood. Usually when you are an adult, you don't call your friends by their nicknames. Gene doesn’t want to grow up now, but he is starting to go through the gradual process of becoming an adult.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousApril 17, 2020 at 7:42 AM

    I don't think their relationship will ever be what it once was. It may seem like that from the outside, but Knowles does a good job of showing the internal conflict that Gene is feeling. He will always feel guilty, even if they seem to be best friends. Finny doesn't realize any of this, and so to him it could easily seem as though their friendship has returned. I believe that Gene will always feel a little bit guilty for ruining his friend's sports career, and so he will think that he 'owes' Finny something. For this reason, they can never be true best friends again

    ReplyDelete

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