Did gene knock Finny out of the tree?
In fact, Finny did not fall out of the tree, but Gene had actually pushed him out. Gene had very good reasons to push him out “Finny had put him up to it, to finish me fro good on the exam.” Page 49.
What do Finny and Gene agree on about the incident in the tree?
Finny pretty much concludes that Gene probably is responsible for knocking him out of the tree. Even if Gene did it accidentally, it is understood between the both of them that Gene may have had subconsciously wanted to do it and this helped push him over the edge. They treat it as a moment of weakness.
Why does Gene let Finny talk him into jumping out of the tree?
Gene is uncertain, at the time, why he jumps from the tree. He asks himself why he lets Finny talk him into these things—they’re dangerous, and he doesn’t enjoy them. Finny says he has to “shame” Gene into taking risks. It is clear, however, that the real reason Gene jumps is because he feels competitive with Finny.
Why does Gene try on Finny’s clothes?
Gene finds comfort in putting on Finny’s clothes because for a little while he can be someone other than himself. Because of Gene’s guilt and self-loathing, just being himself is painful. Finny is still in the infirmary, and Gene has yet to face him after making him fall from the tree.
What are Finny’s three rules that he lives by?
Finny was particular about rules: clubs met regularly, be honest about your height, always say your prayers at night in case there is a God. His most prized motto though was “you always win at sports” with “you” referring to everyone.
Why did gene kick Finny out of the tree?
Gene makes a few uncertain comments and Leper suddenly breaks down, insulting him. He then accuses Gene of knocking Finny out of the tree. Gene kicks Leper’s chair over. Leper’s mother rushes into the room, declaring that her son is ill and demanding to know why Gene would attack a sick person.
How did Finny tell Gene not to study?
Gene complains that his grade will suffer and begins to storm out to the tree when Finny tells him casually that he doesn’t have to come along if he wants to study, as it is only a game. Finny says that he didn’t realize that Gene ever had to study; he thought his academic prowess came naturally.
What happens to gene after Finny’s unthinking action?
Gene’s action, then, takes away Finny’s power to disrupt Gene’s orderly progress towards conventional adulthood. After the fall, Gene does not have to fear the consequences of Finny’s unthinking action. The irony, of course, is that Gene’s own unthinking action will have terrible consequences of its own.
How does Finny and Gene get along in a separate peace?
Gene interprets Finny’s hunkering down as merely an attempt to even out the sides of the rivalry, since Gene is an excellent student and a fairly good athlete, while Finny is an excellent athlete but a poor student. Despite Gene’s suspicions of Finny, the two get along well in the weeks that follow.