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?

What is the irony in Gene and Finny's conversation on page 155?

Gene and Finny are in their dorm after the huge snowball fight on the Fields Beyond. During the fight it never occurred to Gene but then he decided to inquire whether what Finny was doing was safe. This is ironic because Gene was a part of the group that had attacked Finny at the end of the snowball fight. Remember what it said on page 155, "We ended the fight in the only way possible; all of us turned on Phineas." Notice the keywords of the sentence: "we" and "us". These words show that Gene was a part of the mob. Gene also said on the same page right before the break, "I thought it was pretty funny, didn't you?" This shows that not only did Gene join the mob but he thought that potentially hurting Finny again was funny.

Another thing that made this situation ironic was that Gene had been feeling so much guilt for hurting Finny, but he was given the opportunity to attack Finny he didn't even think twice about his decision. Gene was also laughing at the fact that he attacked a disabled person. Gene should have been the first person to be against the attack. Although Gene did join, a good thing was that he was able to let go and have some fun. Gene was able to stay calm and not yell at Finny for thinking that he was going to become as good as new.

Some things to think about:

• Why was Finny grinning even when he was getting pummeled by about nineteen other people?
• Can a broken/shattered leg fix to the point that it is stronger than it was before?
• Do you think that Gene actually believes that Finny's leg is growing stronger?

Explore the dynamics and undertones of Finny and Gene’s first conversations upon his return. Does it feel “realistic” to you? Why or why not?

Finny is back after the absence due to his 'shattered' leg, and suddenly everything changes- as written on page 102, "Everything that had happened throughout the day faded like that first false snowfall of the winter. Phineas was back." The minute after they share very brief greetings, the first thing that Finny tells Gene is how he should never have left him there to advertise how badly dressed he is.

I find that the first conversation between Finny and Gene rather ironic and unrealistic; instead of Gene asking Finny whether he is feeling all right or Finny asking Gene how he was doing, the first thing they discussed was how dreadful Gene's choice of clothing was. It's as if the two of them both are avoiding the topic of asking of each other's welfare. Finny's got a shattered leg and it's obviously not fine. Not only that, they both know that Gene purposely jounced the branch, which made Finny fall off the tree in the first place. It seems that neither of them want to face that guilt and unavoidable fact yet. They both know, however, that they must do that in the end, but they want to hold it off as soon as possible.

Soon after Phineas' return, Gene becomes a follower of Finny again, no matter how much pain, both physically and emotionally, Finny must be feeling with all of this. I think this shows how much influence Finny still has over Gene. Or, rather, how used to obeying Finny's words Gene is. He might realize later on that his popular best friend does not have as much power over him as he used to, but that Gene is so accustomed to listening to Finny that he just goes along with it.

Brinker intercepts the two friends' talk with the already-stated accusation that Gene got rid of Finny on purpose, which was partly true but put onto a very exaggerated scale. Instead of outright saying it, Brinker says as quoted from page 106, "'So,' Brinker curled his lip at me, 'your little plot didn't work so well after all.'" Gene, of course, goes into a right state of panic and passes it off as Brinker persuading him to enlist, which perhaps surprisingly, Finny reacts negatively to.

Eventually Gene realizes that Finny doesn't want him to enlist, and quickly reassures him that he wasn't even considering it (indirectly), which was most definitely not the truth. In doing so, he insults Brinker, effectively convincing Finny and humiliating Brinker at the same time. Later on, during one of their idle chats, Gene finds out that Finny doesn't believe that the war is really going on at all, and is really just a false idea that the high-class "fat old men" are putting into their minds while stuffing themselves with the best steaks.

This really shows how much Finny's view on the war has changed- first, he is encouraging it, relating his many games to the war and even wearing the pink shirt as an emblem for it. Now, it seems, he is in denial about it, and is trying to convince himself and everyone around him that it does not, and has never, exist(ed).

Why do you think that Finny has had such a sudden change of view? What's Gene's reaction to this? And, more importantly, what has the training that is triggered by the sudden disbelief symbolize in the plot?