Do you think that it was right for Gene to take back the truth from Finny? Why or why not?
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Brooke Graves: Pages 86 - 102, Question 2 ( In the first part of the reading, Brinker presses Gene about what Finny and what happened. Explore and explain the significance of their conversation BEFORE the Butt Room. Be sure to explore the significance of the syntax of “But the truth will out” (88).)
The conversation between Gene and Brinker signifies Gene's guilt about the accident and how worried he is that someone will find out that he had caused the accident. The first day of the winter sessions, Brinker made a point of visiting all the rooms near his. When Brinker entered Gene's room is was impressed that he had enough influence to get a big room all to himself. Brinker then said to Finny, "I'll bet you knew all the time Finny wouldn't be back this fall. That's why you picked him for a roommate, right?" (Knowles 88). Gene instantly started to defend himself, but he was trying to joke around with Brinker so he wouldn't expect him of anything. Gene said, "What? ... No, of corse not. How could I know a thing like that in advance?" (Knowles 88). Gene also started to move books rapidly and thought his blood sounded strained in his own blood-pounded ears. This means that Gene was freaking out that Brinker had discovered the truth about him causing the accident, but Gene was doing everything he could to play it cool and convince Brinker that he hadn't done what he was being accused of. Brinker then said, "Rest assured of that, my son. In our free democracy, even fighting for its life, the truth will out." (Knowles 88). Brinker meant that eventually the truth would come out, no matter how hard Gene tried to keep it hidden. This absolutely terrified Gene, and he completely avoided that statement, and asked Brinker to go down to the Butt Room with him to have a smoke. This shows that the guilt is eating up Gene, and he's lives in fear that someone will find out what happened. This reminded me of when my sister broke my fathers iPad and in the heat of the moment she lied and said she had left if at school over the weekend. When ever someone talked about any sort of electronic she would start freaking out because of the guilt. She was extremely worried that someone would find out, and she was constantly in fear. The conversation between Gene and Brinker signifies how Gene is having trouble dealing with his guilt, and that he is extremely fearful that the truth will be uncovered.
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I think that it was right for Gene to take back the truth from Finny because his physical state could of gotten worse. Gene partially knew that he shook the tree so that Finny would purposefully fall off, but when Finny told him it wasn't true, Gene agreed with him and said that he was acting crazy. Finny then calls Gene and tries to tell him that Gene was acting crazy and it wasn't true, "God you were crazy when you were here... I wanted to make sure you recovered" (Knowles 83). In this quote, Finny is telling Gene that he was just crazy and that Finny really cares about Gene. Gene did the right thing overall, but he needs to tell Finny the truth now that he is back.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Abby that Gene made the right decision to tell Finny that he wasn't thinking straight when he at Finny's house. His decision to lie was the first genuinely kind act made by Gene throughout the whole entire book. Gene has always been thinking about himself and how he can feel comfortable in his community and with Finny. Had Gene told Finny that he made Finny fall intentionally, Finny would have been crushed and his recovery would have been significantly delayed but instead Gene decided to spare his morale and bite the bullet. When Gene admitted earlier that he intentionally injured Finny, Finny's first response was, "I'm tired and you make me sick. Go away (Knowles, 70). If Gene told Finny the truth again Finny's physical and mental reaction would have been much worst than the first time.
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