In the last section of the reading, Finny and Gene have a conversation about sports at Devon. Gene tells Finny about his experience as crew assistant manager and Finny responds with, “... what's that got to do with sports?” (Knowles 84) and “... if I can't play sports, you're going to play them for me,” (Knowles 85). Gene then says to the reader, “I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become part of Phineas” (Knowles 85). Gene sees this green light from Finny as a way to become the new Finny in sports. In future readings, maybe Gene will shift his focus from academics to athletics and fill his best friend's hole at Devon. Gene has always wanted to be at the same level as Phineas and this his chance. Will this be successful or satisfactory for Gene? Maybe not. The level of love for Finny in the past, and the increased level since his broken leg, filling Finny's place will be impossible for Gene.
Henry Bamford
Henry,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about the impossibility of the fulfillment of Finny's athletic place. However, I disagree with your statement about whether Gene will shift his focus from academics to athletics. Quinn often brings up the theory of Gene living in Finny's shadow. Now that Finny is no longer active at Devon, there is no shadow Gene can dwell in, therefore forcing him to carve his own path and make his own shadow. The sole reason that Gene would want to shift his focus to athletics is Finny, and currently, Finny plays a minuscule part in Gene's Devon life.