Ever since we are first introduced to Finny, we see how much power and influence he possesses over the other students. One time we see this is when he starts the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session with Gene, and as he tells all of the kids about it, they instantly want to join. Even Gene listens to everything Finny tells him to do for this club, even though he realizes how much he doesn't want to jump of a tree every day or how board he gets participating in a daily club he barely takes interest in. Finny can influence anny kid at Devon to do anything he wants them to do, and he knows without any doubt that they will listen.This certain instance reveals that Finny is controlling, and feels that he is the leader of the school. It also reveals that the students are so eager to be Finny's friends or just look cool that they will listen to every stupid and dangerous thing he says, while never even considering the foolishness in their actions.
Another example is when Finny invents Blitzball, and in an instance everyone starts to play, and they listen to every new rule Finny makes up. Throughout their games of Blitzball, Finny commands everyone on what to do, and just yells at them throughout the game. He has so much power and influence over these kids that they will literally tackle each other or pass the ball without thinking on it the second Finny says to do so. If you were one of these kids (not including Gene), would you listen to everything Finny says and do it just to fit in and be in his group, or would you stand up and risk everyone disliking you to voice your opinion about how ridiculous Finny's authority is. Please be honest.
In this situation, I think that I would get a little fed up with Finny. However, I don't find it ridiculous. In my school years I have done some pretty crazy things, therefore, I would follow Finny. The problem is, that I could find him annoying and bossy, which could be a problem. For my final thought I would like to say that I admire FInny's qualities. He is a leader in every way, and I think that is a great quality. Do you think that the stunts Finny pulls off are ridiculous?
ReplyDeleteI think the reason that the other kids at the Devon school follow Finny so blindly is because of the respect that they have for him. As a star athlete in the school, and a friend to most of the teachers, he is the type of kid that the others look up to as a leader. Through Gene's various accounts of Finny avoiding almost certain punishment, we build up this picture of Gene as an infallible person. I think, Ezra, that you were definitely right when you talked about the sheer power and influence that Finny holds above the other kids. If I was one of those kids, I would probably listen to Finny, not because I didn't want to stand out, but because there's no reason to doubt a kid whose always right. Do you guys think that if Finny were to get in trouble, all the kids would keep following his lead?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Sasha on that most kids at the Devon school want to be like Finny. The fact the Finny can get away with almost anything he wants is admirable, and if I were there I would do anything to be somewhat like Finny. To combine Sasha and Ezra's points, I believe that Finny's authority does not currently seem ridiculous to the students at Devon; he never gets in trouble and only seems to earn respect from teachers. If Finny were to ever get in trouble, and not be as respected by everyone, kids would stop following him, and he would no loner seem invincible. In reality do people normally ever stand up to a clear leader? Do you think Finny was born a leader or became one? What about any leader in general?
ReplyDeleteAllie, i agree with a great part of your analogy, however, i disagree on some of your points about finny. He probably wasn't born with the ability of getting away with anything, but what you said about him losing his reputation in one given situation, is disputable. I believe that if someone can get away with wearing a pink shirt to their headmasters house won't let his reputation go away with ease. Even if he were to make a mistake, i don't think his friends would stop following him. The real question is, what do you think he CANT get away with?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sasha that Finny clearly has the other students respect, but I don't think they follow him because of fear or trying to fit in. Gene is very good friends with Finny and he seems to maintain this friendship because he genuinely likes Finny. Finny is very admirable to the other students because he is a star athlete, and seems to be able to get away with anything. Finny has tremendous influence on his peers because they look up to him. The students don't question Finny's authority because they think he deserves it. They see that he has the qualities of a great leader, and so they follow him. I think that if Finny were to get in trouble, the other students would continue to follow him, yet if this trend continued they would lose more and more respect for him. Do you think that Gene and his friends follow Finny out of fear or respect?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sasha and Matt that Finny has power over all kids in Devon. I agree with Sasha that they are not just following Finny to be a 'cool kid'. Finny has earned, and deserved every kids respect. Gene and Finny have a unique relationship because they both have an underlined respect for each other, and they show it differently than most people would. Finny is easier to like than Gene for Finny shows self confidence and is an athlete that all kids look up to. Finny has always been respected and unless he does something that even he can't get out of, he will always be respected. I think that Gene and his friends follow Finny out of respect because he shows outstanding leadership qualities and is sure of himself during times of doubt. Do you think that Gene feels more envy towards Finny than he actually shows?
ReplyDeleteThe reason that Finny's will is followed so blindly by the student body is because he is respected by the entire Devon School, faculty included. They think of him as a leader because of his confidence, overpowering personality, and talent in everything he sets his mind to. The students believe that Finny is always right because they are able to see that he is able to get away with breaking any rule and is able to turn any blatantly stupid idea into a brilliant one, as was seen when he created the Super Suicide Society and Blitzball. Finny's success in everything he does is what enables his followers to have absolute belief in him. Therefore I disagree with Ezra when he says that Finny is followed because it is "cool" to follow him. If, for example, Finny's idea of having Gene jump off of the tree had caused Gene to die, then the children would be less inclined to follow Finny's lead, and would begin to doubt him, even if he was still "cool". However, because Finny's ideas have continued to be successful, the students of the Devon School continue to follow him. I too, would probably follow his lead if I were one of the students. But if Gene had instead fallen off the tree and died, do you think that Finny would continue to be the self-confident leader that he is now, or would Finny become an entirely different person?
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