Assignment 11 question 4 Julia Burnett

If Finny had survived his operation, do you think Gene and Finny could remain friends? Or do you think the friendship at this point is too broken? Make sure to include support from the text in your answer.

Although it would have been difficult at first, had Finny survived his operation him and Gene could have remained friends. Throughout the book Gene talks about Finny's ability to forgive and his inability to hate, therefore, it would be characteristic of Finny to accept Gene's apology and try to move on with their friendship. While Gene reflects on Finny's life after his passing he says, "When they began to feel that there was this overwhelmingly hostile thing in the world with them, then the simplicity and unity of their characters broke and they were never the same again. Phineas alone had escaped this. He possessed an extra vigor, a heightened confidence in himself, a serene capacity for affection which saved him...Only Phineas was never afraid, only Phineas never hated anyone" (Knowles 202-204). Although Gene’s actions at the tree were hostile and cruel, he sincerely apologized, allowing Finny to forgive him before he became overwhelmed with hatred and discontent. In their final conversation, Finny was able to express his anger and impatience with Gene giving them the ability to move past the anger so it could not cause resentment or problems at later times in their friendship. The readers know that Finny accepted Gene’s apology as he says in their last conversation, "I believe you. It's okay because I understand and I believe you. You've already shown me and I believe you" (Knowles 191). With the knowledge of Finny’s forgiveness and desire to move past the difficult time, the reader also understands that rebuilding trust between them will be difficult as described by Finny’s body language. While accepting Gene’s apology, Finny is described to be, “ nodding his head, his jaw tightening and his eyes closed on the tears” (Knowles 191). The nodding of his head and closing of his eyes show that Finny is being sincere while the tightening of his jaw describes the difficulty of rebuilding trust and bonds with Gene. Knowles description of Finny sums up the status of their relationship at the time and leads readers to think that while at times rebuilding friendship between Finny and Gene will be difficult, it is not impossible. Although rebuilding trust after such a traumatic incident would inevitably be difficult, it would be possible, especially with someone as forgiving as Finny.