3) Re-read the opening paragraph of chapter 3. Explore and explain the quote “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me” (33). Explain what Gene is saying and why he is saying it at this point. What are the larger implications of what he is saying?
“Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me” (Knowles 33) Gene says this at the beginning of chapter 3 about Phineas. Gene is blaming Phineas for the little accident that happened the previous night. Although Phineas saved Gene's life, he also almost made him kill himself. If it wasn't for Phineas's 'Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session', Gene would not have been up in the tree talking to Phineas, and he wouldn't have lost his balance. He starts to realize that Phineas is pressuring him to do these stupid things. "I wouldn't have been on that damn limp except for him." (Knowles 33) Gene begins to understand that Phineas is the dominant one in their friendship. "I noticed in that he did abide by certain rules, which he seemed to cast in the form of Commandments." (Knowles 35) Gene feels that he needs to do what Phineas says or he will lose the tight bond they have. "At that time it would never have occurred to me to say, 'I don't feel like it tonight', which was the plain truth every night. I was subject to the dictate of my mind, which gave me the maneuverability of a strait jacket." (Knowles 34) A lot of the time Gene does not want to do what Phineas is doing, but because of the fear of losing his best friend, he goes ahead and does it anyways. Gene knows that Phineas is a kind person and a great friend. "He got away with everything because of the extraordinary kind person he was. It was quite a compliment to me, as a matter of fact, to have such a person choose me for his best friend." (Knowles 29) Now he feels the need to do these foolish stunts with him because Phineas choose him as his best friend.
I think Gene is slowing becoming more envious of Phinny, than seeing him as a friend. First, we see them as best friends living in the same dorm, and bonding. Then Gene begins talking about Phinny’s “special personality” and how he can do anything he wants, and get out of it. Finally, unlike what Rei said, I don’t think Gene is worried about losing Phinny, I think Gene is just jealous of Phinny. Gene has become completely submissive to Phinny allowing him to control him,” Acting against every instinct of my nature, I went without a thought of protest” (Knowles 34). This new feeling of envy and jealousy of who Phinny is and his likable personality, I believe makes Gene feel weak compared to him, and he does not like this one bit, “ I recognize sarcasm as the protest of people who are weak” (Knowles 29).
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Chloe that Gene is envious of Phineas, but I also think that he is trying to deny it. Chapter two ends with Gene realizing how much Finny helped him. He immediately says that it was Finny's fault in the first place, because he doesn't want to admit that Finny is nice enough to help him that much. “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me” (Knowles, 33) As well as competition, denial is a big theme in this book. Gene is in denial because he doesn't want to admit that he is jealous of Finny. That would mean that he has to admit that Finny is better than him. By lying to himself, and telling himself that Finny put him in that position in the first place, Gene doesn't have to accept the fact that he is envious of Finny. I don't think that Gene will be able to lie to himself for much longer. "I didn't need to feel any tremendous rush of gratitude toward Phineas." (Knowles, 33)
ReplyDeleteI think that Gene is frustrated about the fact that he must live by Finny's rules in order to keep his friendship. Like Caleb mentioned, Gene is aware that Finny is the dominant one in their friendship. I also think that Gene is angry about the fact that he will always be living in Finny's shadow. When Gene says that Finny "lost [my life] for me," (Knowles, 33), he is stating that he no longer has his own life, because Finny will always be controlling his decisions and outshining Gene.
ReplyDeleteThe tree is the most symbolic place in the story so far. Gene is very fearful of the tree, and when Finny makes him go out on the limb in chapter three he nearly falls. Before falling Finny grabs him and saves him. I honestly feel, that if Finny hadn't saved him it would've been better for Gene. If Gene had fell it would've been a moment of extreme realization. Gene would have seen that everything Finny makes him do, in some way has a negative effect on him. Another example of this would also be Blitzball. Gene is forced to start with the ball and be tackled by everybody.
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