EDITED VERSION Assignment 11 Question 1 Katie

Is Finny's fall, and ultimately his death, something you can blame on Gene? Why or why not? If he is not to blame, then who is?

Finny's fall is something that Gene can partially be blamed for, but I wouldn't say entirely. Although it was he would physically caused Finny's fall, he wasn't really consciously and purposefully doing it. He hadn't thought it through or planned it out. It was an impulse move. Finny understands this, and says to Gene as they are sitting in the infirmary for the second time, "It was just some kind of impulse move you had in the tree there, you didn't know what you were doing." (Knowles 191). He wasn't trying to cripple Finny for life, it was an impulsive and dangerous move, that he wasn't in control of. Finny's death definitely cannot be blamed on Gene, although he helped to cause it. This is because he wasn't trying to kill Finny at all, and even if he had really meant to make Finny fall off of the tree, he had never had the real, admitted intention of killing Finny. No one is particularly to blame in this situation, although many caused it. Blame is suggesting that it was a their cruel intent. Brinker Hadley helped to cause the death, because if he had not held the trial, Finny never would have fallen down those stairs. Dr. Stanpole helped to cause the death, because he was not quite careful enough during the operation that directly caused Finny's death.

I do not think that anyone should be blamed for Finny's death, although many caused it.

Assignment 11 Question 1 Katie

Is Finny's fall, and ultimately his death, something you can blame on Gene? Why or why not? If he is not to blame, then who is?

Finny's fall is something that Gene can partially be blamed for, but I wouldn't say entirely. Although it was he would physically caused Finny's fall, he wasn't really consciously and purposefully doing it. He hadn't thought it through or planned it out. He wasn't trying to cripple Finny for life, it was an impulsive and dangerous move, that he wasn't in control of. Finny's death definitely cannot be blamed on Gene, although he helped to cause it. This is because he wasn't trying to kill Finny at all, and even if he had really meant to make Finny fall off of the tree, he had never had the real, admitted intention of killing Finny. No one is particularly to blame in this situation, although many caused it. Blame is suggesting that it was a their cruel intent. Brinker Hadley helped to cause the death, because if he had not held the trial, Finny never would have fallen down those stairs. Dr. Stanpole helped to cause the death, because he was not quite careful enough during the operation that directly caused Finny's death.

I do not think that anyone should be blamed for Finny's death, although many caused it.

Max Dowden Assignment 11

5) Explain the significance of the last paragraph: "I did not cry then or ever about Finny. I did not cry even when I stood watching him being lowered into his family's strait-laced burial ground outside of Boston. I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case."



Gene is deeply shocked by Finny’s death. The fact that he died so suddenly, and in such a random, very medical way, is hard for him to deal with. When Finny dies, Gene feels like he has lost part of himself. He says “I could not escape the feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case.” (Knowles )This shows that, through the entire book, whether Gene saw Finny as a best friend or bitter rival, Phineas played a huge part in shaping his life at Devon. He was central in Gene’s adolescence, and now that that’s gone, it seems to Gene as if a huge hole has just been ripped out of his life. Gene also feels guilty, because he never gets the chance to set things right with Finny. This could also play into the quote, as he feels some of his morality has died.

Assignment 11 Question #1- Sophie Attie

Is Finny's fall, and ultimately his death, something you can blame on Gene? Why or why not? If he is not to blame, then who is?

Finny's fall and ultimately his death is not Gene's fault. Gene is not the cause of Finny's final fall down the stairs. It is just wrong to blame Gene for something he did not do. Yes Gene did cause Finny's first fall off the tree but he did not cause the second fall. Although some people might think it's Genes fault i do not think so. It's not that i feel bad for Gene i just think he did nothing wrong. Right before Finny storms out of the assembly room he was arguing with Brinker, not Gene. The entire time it seems like he was mad at Brinker for bringing the topic up. He doesn't even mention Gene, Finny lets all his anger out on Brinker " You get the rest of the facts, Brinker!" He cried, "You get all your facts!" (knowles p. 177). I don't think you can really blame anyone for his fall. The entire trial got Finny mad especially the fact that they were talking about him breaking his leg and they were blaming Gene. Finny obviously showed that he didn't want to talk about that and everyone kept mentioning it. You could tell that Gene was trying to avoid the topic " Never mind about that,' said Brinker with his face responsibly grave.... You know we wouldn't ask you if we didn't have a good reason... good reasons.' 'There's nothing to tell'" (knowles p. 168). Finny started the intensity by saying that he didn't care (p. 176). I can't be sure about what he doesn't care about but i think he doesn't care about the entire thing. He might just be saying he doesn't care about Leper but really he's just stating that he doesn't care who did what and he just wanted to move on. When he fell it was all a blur to Gene. It seemed like Gene knew he did something wrong though, he avoided helping Finny because he feared Finny would get mad. Even though Finny does get very mad at Gene when Gene sneaks into his infirmary window i still think that it is not Gene's fault and Finny only fell because he wasn't thinking straight after he stormed out of the room.

Will Mann Assignment #10 Question #5

5) Explore Brinker’s role in the trial and his motivation. Why does he does he orchestrate the trial?

Brinker orchestrates the trial in the First Building because he wants to complete what he did not finish in the Butt Room. He has been the nosy, uncontempt dormmate throughout the entirety of the novel, and has always had the desire to know everything about everyone everywhere. He is centered around himself, and is always selfish enough to negate advice from others in order to further his academic dominance at Devon School.

Another reason for Brinker's maestro role in the trial is because of his and Gene's plan to enlist in the U.S Army. Prior to Finny's return to Gene's dorm room, Brinker and Gene make a plan to enlist in the army as a team. When Finny returns, however, Gene denies any plan to enlist and dismisses the idea entirely. Brinker inquiries about this subject later, stating, "You've been putting off enlisting in something for only one reason: It's Finny. You pity him." Gene is enraged upon hearing this statement, and their conversation futher damages an already fragile friendship between the two. Brinker thinks that by proving to Gene that Finny is not his true friend by exposing what Finny really thinks about the day he was crippled for life will turn Gene away from Finny and make him want to follow Brinker and enlist in the army.

Assignment 11, question 4, Quinn Egan

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.

If Finny survived his operation then Finny and Gene would have remained friends. They would had remained friends because Finny was convinced that Gene jounced the tree out of random act without thinking not because he wanted Finny to be hurt of even killed. For example, "I believe you . It's okay because I understand and I believe you. You've already shown me and I believe you"(Knowles 191). This quote shows that Finny realizes that all that Gene has been doing was for his own good so he really is a good friend, and a good friend could not of pushed me him off of the tree with hate. This conversation was the last time that they talked before Finny passed away. It was a positive last conversation because they both knew that they were still best friends and always will be.

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.