Gene and Finny's training represents how their friendship has impacted both of them, as well as how their individual qualities have become prevalent in one another. When Finny was cooped up at home after his accident, Gene began to take on Finny's personality: he dressed in Finny's clothes, and harbored the same deceiving nature when he went with Brinker to the Butt Room. "His glance flickered out at me from his defeat, and I saw to my surprise that I had, by making a little fun of him, brought upon myself his unmixed hatred." (Knowles 91) Once Finny returns to Devon, he insists that Gene begin training in order to take his place at the 1944 Olympics. In addition, Gene begins to tutor Finny in academics. "I was dividing my time between tutoring Finny in studies and being tutored by him in sports." (Knowles 119) They each share a part of themselves with the other, and the result is them becoming more alike.
Additionally, Gene and Finny's training brings out the quality in Finny that allows him to take any negative situation, such as war, and turn it positive. He does this by insisting that the war is fake and that it was created by old, fat men who wish to control all the food and money in the world. "'Do you really think that the United States of America is in a state of war with Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan?'" (Knowles 115) Even though Finny denies that there is a real war, he still insists on completing war related tasks, such as training. Normally, he and Gene would be training to go off to war. However, Finny suggests that this is for the 1944 Olympics. Finny knows, deep down inside, that there is a war going on and that Gene will someday have to be enlisted in it. Finny does not want to even think of losing Gene at this point, so he says that the training is because of the Olympics. This not only shows both Gene and Finny's devotion to their friendship, but how Finny does have a sense of realism, even if he fails to show it sometimes.
I agree. I think that their training brings them both closer to each other. "Do thirty of them, he mumbled in a bored voice. I had never done then of them" (Knowles 116). This scene shows how Gene can be pushed by Finny just because of his presence. Gene takes gym and probably has done these many times before, but when Finny is there, he drives Gene until Gene does thirty. This also shows that they are still really close, even after the accident. So when Finny starts talking about the 1944 Olympics and his life dreams and goals, Gene understands as if it were himself, and Gene feels obligated to get to the 1944 Olympics. This is related to their conversations about war because by Finny setting a goal for Gene to get to, he also sets him on the path leading away from war. Finny said earlier, "Enlist!" (Knowles 107) with a tone saying, "are you crazy?" Clearly, Finny does not want Gene going to war. By setting Gene on the path to the Olympics, Finny is leading Gene to peace, away from the war.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Charlotte and Ben. I think that Finny training Gene for the Olympics represents a connection, which helps to keep their friendship alive and carefree. Gene had been spending a lot of time in the Butt Room with his new friends when he says, "[Finny] drew me increasingly away from the Butt Room crowd, away from Brinker and Chet and all other friends, into a world inhabited by just himself and me...training for the Olympics of 1944" (Knowles 127).This quote shows that Finny wants Gene's undivided friendship. In Gene's secluded, peaceful world created by Finny, the only thing that exists is Finny, and the prospect of the 1944 Olympics. Gene's and Finny's friendship is standing on fairly thin ice: ever since Gene's guilt-spurred confession at Finny's home during vacation when Gene claimed he caused Finny's fall, both boys have been struggling to get their relationship back to normal. Working together toward the same, distant goal -1944 Olympics- creates a distraction from all of their troubles, and covers up any differences.
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