The fight between Gene and Quackenbush (p. 77-79) is significant for a few reasons. For example the fight takes place in the fall. This is a negative thing because at the beginning of the book Gene elaborates on how he does not like fall because it is cold and all the leaves begin to fall off. Fall is also negative because Finny is not there with him during this time, which makes him feel even worse. Since the fight happens in the fall it adds to Gene's feelings and shows how important the event is in the book.
The overall reason why the fight between Gene and Quackenbush is because Gene was already upset that Finny wasn't at school, that it was his least favorite season, and the way Quackenbush was treating just made him lose control. The main thing that sent him over the edge was the fact that Quackenbush used the word "maimed." The reason why this made him so upset is because it showed that Quackenbush was implying that he was a "cripple or was wounded and was unable to preform certain functions." Obviously, Gene did like that Quackenbush saw him that way and that is why Gene got very upset and hit him. This whole incident relates back to the beginning of the chapter when Gene was upset about the whole situation he was in which concluded in all of the hectic actions afterward.
Questions:
1) Why do you think that Quackenbush was mean to Gene in the first place?
2) Do you believe that Gene got in the fight purely because he was upset about Finny or do you think there was something else going on in his mind?
3) Do you think there was a spacific reason the Gene decided to be in crew that symbolized other things in the book (explain)
4) Why do you think that Quackenbush used the word maimed? was it because he truly thought that or for some other reason?
Quakenbush was mad at Gene because he felt like Gene was trying to take his place as manager. Gene however really didn't care about being manager and he found it annoying that Quakenbush was so suspicious of him. Gene obviously had real problems going on in his life like his friendship with Finny and told Quakenbush that he didn't know anything about Gene. This was Gene's way of telling Quakenbush to leave him alone. When Quakenbush called Gene maimed he took it personally because Finny was seriously injured. That's why Gene hit Quakenbush.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Andrew when he says that the reason that Gene took the "maimed" insult so seriously was because of what happened to Finny. In the book, it says "I hit him hard across the face. I didn't know why for an instant; it was almost as though I were maimed (P. 79),". This shows how, unbeknownst to Gene, he has taken on the role of protecting Finny's name, since, due to the injuries that Gene caused him, Finny is unable to protect himself. This action is caused more by the guilt that Gene has over the tree incident rather then any loyalty that he had had towards Finny from beforehand, since before, Gene would have been more than happy to see Finny take a fall here or there. Do you think that Finny would have started a fight if he had been able to be there? Why or why not?
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