2) Discuss the irony of the dialogue between Finny and Gene on the second half of page 155.

Finny and Gene are in their dorm room after the snowball fight occurring earlier in the chapter, at the Fields Beyond. Gene ask Finny "do you think you ought to get into fights like that? After all there's your leg-" This is ironic because Gene was an avid member of the snowball fight, and after all he did help end the fight by bombarding Finny with snowballs. During the fight it had not occurred to him the possible risks of hurting Finny, he was caught up in the moment. This scene further characterizes Gene, showing that he is impulsive and often does not think before he acts. These traits are shown previously in the novel when Gene jounces the limb during his and Finny's double jump, and when he fights quackenbush.

Later in the page Finny asks "Isn't the bone supposed to be stronger when it grows together in a place where it's been broken once?" Gene replies "Yes, i think it is." This is ironic because previously in the book, Dr. Stanpole had told Gene that Finny would never walk again. Now Gene is implying to Finny that his leg will be even stronger than it was before. Gene is still in denial that Finny is permanently crippled, because he doesn't want to face the guilt. Finny goes on to say that he can feel his leg getting stronger, and Gene replies "thank god," but covers it up when Finny doesn't understand him. This shows that Gene still desperately wants Finny to get better, and is trying to believe that he will. If Finny gets better than everyone will forget about his accident, and Gene can stop fearing that someone will find out he jounced the limb.

Questions:

1. Do you think Gene truly believes that a broken leg is stronger once it heals, or that he is just trying to make Finny feel better?

2. Do you think that Finny actually feels his leg getting stronger, or is just saying that to stop Gene's worries?