As Gene Describes the war he says that he never killed anyone, hated his enemy etc. Why does he contradict himself? Who is his real enemy?

As the book comes to a close, Gene describes the war and the way he feels about his highschool experience. Gene believes that the war he fought, in his life, ended before he ever put on a uniform. The war to find himself and defeat his enemy (The subtle jealousy and hatred for finny) took place long before he was holding a gun (Pg.204) He claims that he killed his enemy. It is clear that Finny is dead. From what gene tends to imply his "enemy" died with Finny. It is not completley clear exactly what his enemy was however. Possibilities for this mystery could be the jealousy, the part of him connected to finny, the guilt, or others. Of course, every problem relates to Finny.

When one observes this book it is clear that it is not based on Gene and Finny's friendship. More clearly and precisley it is based on Gene and the effect their friendship has on him. Hence the narrator roles and the outcome. As soon as Finny died, Gene went to war, the thing Finny said didn't exist became reality for Gene as soon as Finny was dead. This makes sense because they are connected; Gene was a part of Finny. Its all ironic because Genes real enemy was himself but Finny had to die for it. The PURE part of Gene had to die for him to go to war and live his life. Its funny simply because he tells the truth when he says that he "didn't kill anybody" because he didn't; Finny was only a part of him.

Why else is it ironic? How does the way Gene reacts to Finny's death, prove the previously stated point?

Pages 60-71: 6.) What is guilt? Do we all have it? Is it part of being human? Can someone live guilt free?

On page 32, Finny saves Gene from a near death experience. On page 60, Gene jounces a limb that shook Finny resulting in Finny falling off and having a shattered leg. Gene thinks to himself "I spent as much time as I could alone in our room, trying to empty my mind of every thought, to forget where I was, even who I was"(page 62). In the dictionary guilt means a feeling of remorse or responsibility for some offense. Guilt can be used in many different circumstances. In this circumstance, Guilt was used in regret of a decision that Gene had during a split second moment. Just like Gene, guilt is all internal.

Everybody has guilt. Guilt doesn't have to be a big thing. Everybody has to make decisions which lead to people having regret and guilt. Gene made the decision to have Finny fall off the tree, but if he didn't maybe Finny would have even better than Gene. Then, Gene would become even more envious and forever have guilt that he was too scared to shake the tree. Guilt is a part of being human. There is no such thing as a guilt free life, but there is a way to deal with guilt which can result in guilt not taking over you.

What is the difference between guilt and regret? How will Gene try to cope with the guilt he has? What does going to Finny's house show about Gene's character. What will Gene's guilt do to affect there friendship?

Chapter 5: 4) Briefly explain Gene’s visit to the infirmary. How does Finny act? Why? Does this feel “realistic”? How does Gene’s visit impact Finny?

Before even going into the infirmary Gene started crying. He learned that Finny will never be able to play sports again and that he shattered his leg. Dr. Stanpole says "There is no such hope" (page 64) Gene was told that he had to be cheerful for Finny when he entered the infirmary. When Gene entered the room he saw that Finny was lifted a little off the bed and had a cast on his left foot. In the beginning Finny was in a better mood then Gene making many jokes. Gene ask how did Finny fall. Finny said "I just fell" (page 65) Gene looked more shocked then Finny did. Finny had this feeling that Gene did something, but then he apologized for having it. Gene was about to tell Finny what really happened until Dr. Stanpole came in and Gene had to leave.

During the visit when Gene came Finny acted happy. He was making jokes and was in a better mood then Gene was. Finny even says to Gene "You look worse than I do" (page 64). Gene was surprised that Finny could act in such a good mood after his leg had just been shattered. I think Finny acted this way because Finny doesn't know that Gene was the one who jounced the limb on purpose. Finny thought how could he be in a bad mood with Gene here because he never did anything to hurt me. It was just me. I was the one to fall.

I do not think that this is realistic because instead of Gene feeling guilty Finny is the one feeling guilty. Finny says "I'm sorry about the feeling I had" (page 66). As I was reading this I could not believe that Finny was feeling guilty about a thought that he had that was correct. I think the visit Gene made to Finny impacted Finny in a negative way. I think this because it put more guilt on Finny for something he didn't even do.

Why do you think Finny never actually told Gene what the feeling he had was about? Do you think that Finny will try to do something to get back at Gene for what he did? As the rest of the book goes on do you think guilt will impact Genes decisions? Do you think Finny will ever accept the truth that Gene was the one who hurt him?

Chapter 5: Briefly explain Gene’s visit to the infirmary. How does Finny act? Why? Does this feel “realistic”? How does Gene’s visit impact Finny?

In the beginning of Chapter 5 Gene is told that Finny's leg has been shattered. When Gene learns this he starts to feel a tremendous amount of guilt on his shoulders since he was the one who caused Finny to break his leg. Gene starts to worry if Finny told others that it was Gene's fault and Gene becomes more paranoid and anxious. After a few days Dr. Stanpole tells Gene that Finny wanted to especially see him and Gene figures that Finny wanted to confront him face to face. This seems so realistic because Gene is about go face to face with Finny for real for the first time after the fall. But before Gene goes in to see Finny Dr. Stanpole tells him that Finny will not be ever able to play sports again and will take a long time just for Finny to be able to walk. The fact that Finny could not play sports ever again, the only one thing he was good at, Gene felt even more guilt for the fact that he was the one that made Finny lose his only ability.

When Gene enters Finny's room he sees that Finny is wired up to machines from his body and sees that Finny was not his usual glowing self, but rather weaker and less vibrant. Finny acts nice to Gene by saying jokes and seeming to care more about Gene's health than his own . Finny acts this way because he did not think that Gene had anything to do with him falling out of the tree and rather feels guilt that he had a feeling that Gene caused it. As soon as Gene sees how Finny is acting towards him he becomes more anxious and asks Finny what was the reason that he fell. When asked this Finny says, "I don't know, I must have just lost my balance. It must have been that. I did have this idea, this feeling that when you were standing beside me, y-I don't know, I had a kind of feeling. But you can't just say anything for sure from just feelings. And this feeling doesn't make any sense. It was a crazy idea, I must have been delirious. So I just have to forget it. just fell. "I'm sorry about the feeling I had."(pg. 66) When Gene hears Finny say this it shows how much a loyal and better friend Finny is than himself and that Finny was feeling guilt and was a apologizing to Gene for having feelings that were right on the truth. After Finny says this Gene is pushed over the edge with guilt and is about to tell Finny the truth when he is interrupted by Dr. Stanpole. In this visit it is ironic because instead of Gene confessing and apologizing to Finny, Finny is the one who is feeling guilty and is the one who is telling Gene that he should have never felt that way even though his feelings were right. Do you think this incident will permanently damage Gene's and Finny's friendship? Do you think Gene should have told Finny the truth in the beginning of the visit? Did you ever cause anyone harm and fell guilty about it?