Reading #3: 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? (Rhys)
Gene’s view of his relationship with Finny changes from one of friendship to one of rivalry when he realizes they are “even in enmity” (Knowles 53). When Gene uses the word enmity, he means that he and Finny have equal hostility towards one another. He believes that Finny is just as envious of him as he is Finny. Gene feels that if he is head of the class, that will match Finny’s athletic ability, and they would be even. Gene thinks that although he is envious of Finny’s athletic ability, Finny wishes that Gene wasn’t as smart. After Gene thinks about being head of the class, he decides he did hate Finny “for breaking that school swimming record… but Finny hated [Gene] for getting an A in every course” (Knowles 53). Gene concludes that Finny’s activities were set out to wreck Gene’s studies. When Finny begs him to play blitzball or meet with the Suicide Society, Gene thinks Finny’s real intention is to sabotage his grades. From a reader’s perspective, Gene’s jealousy and hostility toward Finny are one-sided. This acknowledgment demonstrates a definite change (on Gene’s side) from friendship to rivalry.
How will Gene and Finny’s relationship turn out further in the novel? Will they still be friends? Will Gene become a better student?
Although Gene believes that he and Finny are “equal in enmity” (Knowles 53), Finny does not. As the boys are going to jump off the branch, Gene realizes that “he had never been jealous of me for a second” (Knowles 59). In Gene’s eyes, their relationship was competitive, but in Finny’s eyes, they were still friends, as always.
ReplyDeleteGene and Finny’s relationship will continue to change throughout the novel, because they each have such different strengths and weaknesses which will possibly lead to disputes later in the novel. When Gene is studying, Finny is telling him that he worries to much about his grades, then Gene begins to think about if he really is Finny’s friend or if he hates him, “You did hate him for breaking that school swimming record, but so what? He hated you for getting an A in every course but one last term” (Knowles, 53). Gene is wondering if Finny is really the right friend for him. Gene and Finny will continue to be friends, however, they both secretly are jealous of each other.
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