Ch 3/4- pages 40-60: On pages 52-54, how does Gene’s view of their relationship change? (Be sure to explain his usage of enmity). What does he think of it? How do you know this? Why does he feel this way? Do you think it is accurate? Why or why not?
In the middle of chapter 4, Gene’s view of Finny changes from respect to hate as he realizes that Finny cares only about winning and, specifically, beating him. As Gene is thinking about their changing relationship, he tries to find ways in which they are equal, saying: “You [and Phineas] are even in enmity. You are both coldly driving ahead for yourselves alone” (Knowles 53). Enmity is “the feeling of being hostile or opposed to someone or something.” Gene realizes that Finny has been pretending to be his friend and sabotaging his academic studies because he wants to be the best at everything. Gene also decides that he is going to become the best student in the school. He realizes that however good Phinny is at sports, he is the worst at academics and so Gene can be the best overall. Throughout chapter 4, Gene learns more about Finny, and so becomes his rival and enemy.
I predict that Gene will take this rivalry too far, and turn this into an unhealthy competition. I think this because after Gene realized that Finny had been sabotaging him so that he wouldn't do well in school, Gene started to study much harder to frustrate Finny. After Gene realized that there was a rivalry, he said, "I became quite the student after that... Now I became not just good but exceptional, with Chet Douglass my only rival in sight," (Knowles 54). By this, Gene meant that he started to work extra hard, and put a lot of unnecessary time into his studies. This "competition" might turn unhealthy because just like we stated in class, a little competition is good to challenge yourself, but too much isn't good.
ReplyDeleteThroughout chapter four, Gene questions he and Finny's friendship, always telling himself he has brain and Finny has brawn, for example on page 53, "I found a single sustaining thought. The thought was, You and Phineas are even already. you are even in enmity"(Knowles 53). Gene reminds himself of his A in every class but one last term to cancel out how Finny broke the freestyle swimming record on his first try. But I disagree with Oakes on the fact of the outcome of the friendship. The end of chapter 4 reads,"I know. We kid around a lot and everything, but you have got be serious sometime, about something" (Knowles 58). Gene realizes Finny misunderstood that everything someone is good at doesn't come naturally. Gene concludes the Finny wasn't trying to sabotage him at all and they end with a double jump off the tree on page 60.
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