Assignment 5 (72-85) Why does Quackenbush use the word “maimed”? Explore the significance and connotation. (Eve)

Quackenbush uses the word “maimed” because he dislikes Gene for only doing a sport for the physically disabled and uses the word to make fun of him.  Gene's doesn't enjoy sports so he took a job as an assistant crew manager.  This job is usually reserved for people with an injury.  After the accident, the identities of Gene and Finny almost begin to mush. This is shown when Gene tries on Finny's clothes. For a small moment Gene loses his guilt because he abandons his identity.  This is also shown when Quackenbush calls Gene maimed. After hitting him, Gene says "I didn't know why for an instant; it was almost as though I was maimed." (knowles 79) The guilt of making Finny fall out of the tree is constantly hurting Gene.  When Gene takes on Finny's identity, he is allowed to be free of this guilt. This is why he feels "intense relief" (Knowles 62) when he puts on Finny's clothes.  Gene is a self conscious and an insecure character. Finny is confident, good-natured, the best athlete in school, and spontaneous  - everything Gene is not.  Throughout the book, Gene has wanted to be more like Finny. In these small moment when he share Finny's identity, he is at peace with his own identity.When Quackenbush calls Gene maimed, Gene sees it as him calling Finny maimed and stands up to defend him. However, he also feels as though he is the one with the injury and Quackenbush is making fun of his own physical disability.