Gene is one of two main characters in the novel. Gene attends Devon school which is located in Boston and is entering his senior year. Gene is a very diligent, and very studious student. “Studying!” I snarled. “Studying!” “You know, books. Work. Examinations.” He is always studying and reviewing his notes constantly. Reason being is he wants to become the best student he can possibly be, and his goal is to be the valedictorian of his class. His motive is to maximize all of his talents and accomplish all that he can academically. All though gene is very tedious, he is competitive, with his friend, Finny. He is constantly comparing himself with his best friend, who he thinks is a better rounded person than he is. One particular part that he loves to compare with Finny is his athletic capabilities, although he knows that Finny is a much more talented athlete. This competitive nature is a good thing to have between friends because you are pushing one another to be the best, but at times things may get a little too far.
Sports, academics, and friendship are what interests Gene. Gene is a very well rounded person, but is too self conscious. He tends to worry about many things, and at times over react. At times his personality can be completely different than from his friend, Finny. As well Gene over thinks many things. For instance, one night when he was studying, Finny asks him to go outside because Leper claims that he will jump off the tree. Finny was implying that he studies too hard and that he thinks that he needs to take a break once in a while. Unfortunately, Gene interpreted his message in the wrong way. The way the message was interpreted was that Finny was trying to sabotage his grades so that he won’t do as well at his academics. Therefore Finny might one day be able to reach Gene’s academic standards. Thus, resulting in Gene becoming desperate and frustrated with his best friends. With that being said, as Gene and Finny were jumping out of the tree, Gene pushed Finny off. Resulting in Finny falling and breaking his leg.
The personality of Gene has altered a little bit because of this situation. Now he is feeling guilty and feeling paranoid. Unlike Finny, Gene is very emotional and is filled with regret of what he has done. This quote is from the scene where Gene is letting Finny know that he is the one who caused the fall. “Hit me! You can even get up! You can’t even come near me.” “You see! Kill me! Now you know what it is! I did it because I felt like that! Now you know yourself!” Gene is constantly thinking about his best friend and his well being. Meaning that he values their friendship, even though at times things may seem frustrating. He really looks up to Finny, but he is envious of his athletic talents. At times, Gene tends to jump to conclusions before really thinking things through, and is in denial for quite some time of what he did to Finny. From reading this novel, I can tell that Gene wants to do everything to the best of his abilities and make something out of his life, but he strongly questions his identity. “I spent as much time as I could alone in our room, trying to empty my mind of every thought, to forget where I was, even who I was.”
The second main character in this novel is Phineas (Finny). Finny is the best friend of Gene, but their personalities are quite different. Finny is more care free, and relaxed about everything. He doesn’t really think things through, he just does it. As well he has a tendency to be able to get away with things, without getting into any trouble. Finny has a way with his words, and can be a bit ignorant at times, as well as sarcastic. “ Finny, I’ve got something to tell you. You’re going to hate it, but there’s something I’ve got to tell you.” “My God, what energy.” “You sound like General MacArthur.” A quote showing his ignorance was “I didn’t know you needed to study.” “I didn’t think you ever did. I thought it just came to you.” His way of how he thinks may be questionable, but it always seems to make sense sooner or later. For instance he decides to break the rule of going to the beach, knowing that he would be breaking the rules, but did it for the sake of having fun. He too wants to live his life to the fullest, much like Gene, but in a different way.
The things that Finny really focuses on and has much interest in is sports. Finny is very gifted athletically, and can do many things that many Devon students are not even capable of doing athletically wise. Sadly Finny has broken his leg and is quite upset about it because of the fact he will never be able to do the one thing that he loves the most, which is sports. Finny is stuck in the infirmary, and eventually goes home to recover for a few months and will be back once it is Thanks Giving. Although Gene is sad about his leg, he isn’t really as angered by it as I thought he would be. Finny is handling it in a positive manner, more so than his own best friend Gene, who doesn’t even have the broken leg. This speaks strongly about his character. It shows that he is a clam person, who handles himself in a positive way. Finny doesn’t really dwell or express his feelings so much of the fact that he won’t be able to play sports anymore. Finny is also very caring, and one thing that he strongly values is his friendship with Gene. A quote showing this would be, “I wanted to be sure you’d recovered. That’s why I called up.” For instance, when Gene told him, the truth of how he pushed him off, he refused to believe it and impose his will that there is another solution to it. All though Gene did do it, it shows how much trust and how well he thinks of Gene.
Finny can be a very caring person, but at times he can be quite forceful and agitating to be around, For example, he clearly forced Gene to go out to have some fun and jump off the tree, knowing that Gene has a test to study for. Finny can be convincing as well, as he talks many people into doing things that they may not normally do on a regular basis. As well he can be quite aggressive, as he throws a fit at Gene for being the assistant senior crew manager, when he wants him to be playing the sport. Finny says “Listen, pal, if I can‘t play sports, you‘re going to play them for me.”
The third influential character of my part is Cliff Quakenbush. All though he isn’t a main character like Finny and Gene, he has made quite an impact on Gene. Cliff is not very sociable and friendly, but a selfish person. Many consider him to be a bully and treat others without respect. Not only is he considered a bully, but he is a built and strong person. His interest is canoeing and athletics, much like most boys at Devon. Cliff doesn’t like Gene because Gene took his spot as assistant senior crew manager, therefore leaving him without a job. One day after practice Cliff, decides to mock Gene and strongly agitate him by saying very irritable statements to him. “Go to hell Forrester. Who the hell are you anyways.” As well Cliff is very judgmental because those who take on the job of assistant senior crew manager usually have a disability. Students who attend Devon, have to participate in sports in some sort of way, and the assistant senior crew manager was usually occupied because it didn‘t demand much. Therefore he was observing Gene.
Cliff is very ignorant and does not know what Gene has been going through, ever since his best friend broke his leg. Not only is he ignorant, but he is rude because he implies that Gene has a disability. “Listen you maimed son-of a-bitch…” This also shows that Cliff is aggressive because he and Gene get into a fight. They grapple with one another and try to hit each other with as much power as possible. As the fight ends, he once again says a rude remark to Gene. “Get out of here, Forrester,” he said bitterly from the water, “you’re not wanted around here, Forrester. Get out of here.” Cliff is a fighter and wants to be one, because he has the desire to fight in the war one day to become a soldier. Even though Cliff and Gene just got into a fight, it has a lot of meaning and significance to it. Gene stood up for himself because he was not being treated properly and was being provoked, but in a sense he was also fighting for his friend, Phineas (Finny). Gene himself felt like he was Phineas’ defender because he is the one with the broken leg and Cliff had called him a maimed son-of a-bitch. Cliff has made Gene realize that he and Phineas are connected to one another not matter what, because friendship is not easily broken.
