Page 20-41 Question 5

Assignment #2 (21-40 break): Question 5: How would you characterize Gene at this point (the end of the reading)? Provide two specific examples from the story to support your answer.

Gene, the narrator and protagonist of A Separate Peace, suffers from many of the ailments of a sixteen-year-old boy: self-consciousness, uncertainty, and jealousy, rivalry, and envy. His athletic, sociable friend Finny, who pushes his comfort zone, constantly tests him throughout the story, “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything” (Knowles 25). As shown on page 25, Gene feels envy for his mischievous friend Phineas when he gets away with wearing a bright pink tablecloth as an emblem to history class and politely explains to the substitute headmaster, “I couldn't help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little” (Knowles 25). The more Gene justifies his feelings toward Phineas, the more we can see that he's still ashamed of his actions. We then see Phineas wear a Devon Tie as a belt to the substitute head masters tea on page 27, But as “Patch Withers’ face was reaching a brilliant shade, (Knowles 27), we see Gene’s satisfaction at Phineas’ chance of failure.

Mr. Patch Withers questions Phineas as he desperately tries to find a relation to his attire in a positive way as Gene watches quietly, “This time he wasn't going to get away with it. I could feel myself becoming unexpectedly excited at that” (Knowles 27). This is a minor event, a small transgression at an afternoon tea, but it speaks volumes as to Gene's character. This is where we really start to see his resentment of Finny's seemingly easy success. But at the end of the reading we see Gene’s admiration for Finny after playing blitzball on page 40, “Finny could shine with everyone, he attracted everyone he met. I was glad of that too. Naturally. He was my roommate and my best friend” (Knowles 40). Gene describes how everyone must feel powerful emotions toward Finny, and references Finny as an imprint of memory for each special moment they share. Gene suppresses his feelings of envy or insecurity toward Finny. Do you think Finny affects Gene’s characteristics and how he acts in a positive or negative way? Why? Do you think Gene lies to himself about the way he feels about Finny?