While seemingly normal, Finny and Gene’s first conversation upon his return has
undertones of denial and uncertainty. When Finny returns to Devon, he jumps right
into teasing Gene about his clothes and says, “You don’t have to advertise like that,
we all know you’re the worst dressed man in the class” (Knowles 103). This teasing is
very natural and normal in their friendship but this normalness is shortlived.
very natural and normal in their friendship but this normalness is shortlived.
Finny starts to complain about the absence of the maids and Gene jumps in to says,
“after all, there is a war going on” (Knowles 104). In denial, Finny murmurs
“Is there...I didn’t pay any attention” (Knowles 104). Not only is Finny in denial of
the war, but he’s also in denial of his injury, what it means for him, and who caused it.
In trying to act normal, he is doing the opposite given the situation. This connects to the
question, does this conversation feel realistic? To me, it doesn’t. Finny and Gene are
yet to discuss the events of the day Finny got injured and the conversation they had
at Finny’s house. Things can’t be normal between them when something that
big hasn’t been discussed.
Do you think that Finny was acting normal in this conversation? Do you think that they will end up addressing the Elephant in the room?
Do you think that Finny was acting normal in this conversation? Do you think that they will end up addressing the Elephant in the room?
At first, it appears that Finny is acting as his usual, playful self. Gene and Finny are talking like they would over the summer, not worrying about Finny's injury or any of their other duties at Devon. However, when Gene brings up the war, and all the hardships and trouble that they will have to face in the near future, Finny becomes distant and vague. '“After all,' I repeated, 'there is a war on.' 'Is there?' he murmured absently. I didn’t pay any attention; he was always speaking when his thoughts were somewhere else, asking rhetorical questions and echoing other people’s words"(Knowles, 104-105). It is clear in this scene that Finny is refusing to adress or accept his current condition, how it relates to the war, or Genes involvement in the war. Finny is slowly loosing touch with reality, and is trying as hard as he can to push away the truth, relating back to the question of, can you really lie to yourself?
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