Leper being the first boy to enlist is ironic because he is always
taken-back by change at Devon. This is seen when Gene states “Leper stands out
to me as the person who was most often and most emphatically taken by surprise
by every shift in our life at Devon” (Knowles 93). When Gene and the other
schoolboys travel to the railroads to shovel-out the tracks, Leper does not attend
the trip. He rather goes touring, a form of skiing, to find a beaver dam near
the school. Leper has no interest in covering jobs left empty during the war,
and says to Gene “Have a nice day at it anyway” (Knowles 95). He also does not
approve of speed skiing. He states “skiing isn’t supposed to be fast” (Knowles 95). However,
after Leper watches a video of the United States ski troops, his instinct is to
enlist. His feelings toward speed skiing adapts, as well. He states “And skiing
had to learn to move just as fast or it would have been wiped out by this war”
(Knowles 125). Leper is now open to change, a notion that he could not
comprehend in the past.
I agree with Joey, that it is ironic that Leper was the first boy to enlist, especially after he has said that skiiing isn't what is used to be, saying, "They're ruining skiiing in this country, rope tows and chairlifts and all that stuff. You get carted up, and then you whizz down. You never get to see the trees or anything. Oh you see a lot of trees shoot by, but you never really get to look at trees, at a tree. I just like to go along and see what I'm passing and enjoy myself." " (Knowles 95) You would think one of the other boys, one with more athletic background would enlist first. However, Leper's interest for skiiing became broader after watching the video on skiiing in the war. "You know what? Now I see what racing skiing is all about. It's all right to miss seeing the tress and the countryside and all the other things when you've got to be in a hurry." (Knowles 125). Leper's whole perspective of skiiing changes in this chapter.
ReplyDeleteI think it is ironic that Leper enlists because he is often a follower. Leper is not one to do something that others are hesitant to do, for example, jumping out of the tree. Leper is nervous and doesn't see the point in doing something like that. The leaders in Devon: Finny, Brinker, even Gene would have been far more likely to enlist, because they seem to take risks and be active, unlike Leper, who is often seen following the crowd quietly.
ReplyDeleteLeper was always the most innocent of all the boys. He used to draw bird in chapel and go skiing to see beavers. The war has taken that away from him. Gene expected Leper to be the last to enlist of all the boys. The fact that he is the first to enlist forces Gene to see the impact the war has on him and his friends. Gene decided not to enlist to stick by Finny when the both needed each other most. Leper's enlistment has forced the two of them to come out of their 'peace bubble' where the war isn't real and Gene id training for the 1944 Olympics.
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