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?