Monday, April 27, 2015
Assignment #5 - Why does Quackenbush use the word “maimed”? Explore the significance and connotation.- Alexandra Brizius
Quackenbush uses this word to offend Gene. During the reading, Gene starts the academic school year. He does crew, which takes place on one of the Devon Rivers. Because Gene is not very athletic, he decides to be the assistant crew manager, which means he is involved with the sport, with out actually participating. On his first day on the job, he meets Cliff Quackenbush, the crew manager. Quackenbush as a reputation of being picked on, "For Quackenbush had been systematically disliked since he first set foot in Devon." (Knowles 78). The two boys get in a fight, and Quackenbush calls Gene maimed, which means being disabled. Quackenbush calls him this, because jobs like assistant manager, and jobs where you aren't actually participating in the sport are for boys who are injured or disabled. Gene takes this personally because of the state Finny is in. "I fought that battle, that first skirmish of a long campaign, for Finny." (Knowles 79). Finny will never people to play sports again, and this is Gene's fault, so he stands up to protect his friend.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree with Alexandra. Quakenbush calls Gene maimed because instead of playing sports, Gene is the assistant manager for crew. The assistant manager spot is usually taken by kids with disabilities because they can not play the actual sport. When Quakenbush calls Gene maimed, he feels like "it was almost as though I were maimed." (Knowles 79) This is because he is part of Finny now. Gene thinks, "this must have been my purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas." (Knowles 85). Gene feels like he is 'disabled' because Finny is disabled and can't play sports, and it was all Gene's fault. Gene shook the brach of the tree, which caused Finny to lose his balance and fall. Finny shattered his leg, and now he can barely get out of his own bed. The doctor said that "sports are finished for him, after an accident like that." (Knowles 63) Finny wants Gene to play sports for him, telling Gene, "Listen, pal, if I can't play sports, you're going to play them for me." (Knowles 85) Finny is maimed because of Gene and now Gene feels the responsibility to protect him and to do things for him.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Quakenbush called Gene maimed in order to make Gene feel bad about himself. The way Quackenbush does it makes it clear that it was directed as an insult. It shows a lot about Quakenbush's character. He is most likely self-conscience, or insecure, and therefor enjoys pointing out and commenting on the faults of others. Quakenbush sees that Gene is the assistant manager, and does not participate in the sport himself, and since most assistant managers are disabled, Quakenbush uses this information to insult and offend Gene.
ReplyDelete