During his visiting session with Finny inside the Devon infirmary, Gene feels insecure and paranoid that people will question his innocence involving the incident with the tree. This insecurity and paranoia sprouts from the constant shadow lurking that Gene consistantly performed before the horrid accident, and since this shadow is not available anymore, stepping into the role feels good and relieving for Gene. Finny is also one of the sole people in the world that Gene looks up to, and when he falls "in battle", Gene feels it appropriate to fill in the gap. Regarding how he sees Finny when he is lying in bed, Gene states "But when I looked in the mirror, it was no remote aristocrat I had become, no character out of daydreams. I was Phineas. Phineas to the life" (Knowles 62). To Gene, Finny is elevated to a higher level than everyone else, and just putting on his clothes instilled the playful and laughter filled spirit of his wounded companion. Upon putting on Finny's clothes, and feeling the power and emotion of them, Gene divulges "The sense of transformation stayed with me throughout the evening, and even when I undressed and went to bed. That night I slept easily, and it was only upon waking up that this illusion was gone, and I was confronted with myself, and what I had done to Finny" (Knowles 62). In Gene's mind, being Finny is a personal dream, and something so minor and unimportant as wearing his wardrobe can spin him into a fictional stupor of happiness and love. Gene may never be as talented or popular as Finny is, but sharing something with him is an honor and a joy for the shadow dwelling, quiet character that is Gene.
William Man, I could not agree with you more. It is like a trance that Gene gets when he is in Finny's cloths. It is similar to a child playing dress up he feels as if he is someone he wishes he was. That night when he dresses up as Finny, although that could be a sign. It could be a signal that he did not attend dinner. Possibly a discussion question or it could just be the fact that he felt too sick to his stomach to go to dinner.
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