Random one-shots

Literary Analysis

Alrighy so English class is hard and I need an opoion only read if you wanna it's like xtra serious tone xP not my normal care free crazy stuff but hey this is one of three projects due on the 8th this is kinda why I havn't written anything good TT_TT sowee

Opposites attract, but only in one’s science class; in reality opposites do not attract unless by force. In the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles, two teenage boys are roommates and nearly the exact opposite. Unfortunately the only thing that keeps them together is guilt. Finny who is not in touch with reality and Gene who surrounded by reality, and the guilt that follows it; make the two friends complete and total opposites, and hardly attract to each other.

                In A Separate Peace according to the narrator, Gene, winning is the essence of life. He does not directly admit it, but he sure does love to win unlike Finny. Toward the beginning of the novel Finny was curious if he could break the school swim record, surprised by Finny’s athletic ability Gene excitedly said, “‘Not say anything about it! When you broke the school record!’

‘Sh-h-h-h-h!’ He shot a blazing agitated glance at me.’” (Knowles.36) Gene does not want Finny’s talent to be recognized without him being there so that he himself wins in his mind set. During the winter season Finny had managed to gather quite a few classmates and have a snowball fight. While the fight was progressing Finny noticed Gene walking by and talked him into joining.  Then Gene, the narrator, noticed how “Suddenly he turned his fire against me, he betrayed several of his other friends,” (145).  Gene who was getting into the game began getting competitive, while Finny completely just causes chaos. He must not want to win if he, himself is on his own team against many other classmates. Proving that the joy of playing a game or simply enjoying something is what Finny would rather experience than the feeling of winning. Gene on the other hand would rather experience the joy of winning than that of playing a game or putting up with an activity.

                The narrator’s considerably best friend, Finny, does not care much for his education unlike Gene. Finny is so quick to ditch a class. When he came back from nurturing his leg this is what he said when the misfit pair got out of their dorm, “‘Do you have a class?’ he said as we reached the steps of the building,

‘Yes’

‘So do I. Let’s not go.’”(102) the narrator’s attitude is so different towards school, while Finny is oblivious to school and the fact that Gene cares about his education. On one particular night Phineas, nicknamed Finny, tried to play with Gene not realizing how annoyed his roommate really was, “‘We watch little lily-liver Lepeller not jump from the tree, and I ruin my grade.’  He looked at me with an interested, surprised expression. ‘You want to study?’” (50). One could realize that Finny isn’t even aware that school is for learning, by the way he reacted to Gene’s outburst. While one student tries their hardest to succeed in school, and the other student looks for the nearest thing to enjoy. These two friends, Gene and Finny, have such different values upon learning.

                Finally a third difference that is among many differences; is the notion of Gene playing it and by the rules. Phineas on the other hand makes up his morals and rules. An example is after the reader finds out how great of a swimmer Finny can be he spontaneously says, “‘Let’s go to the beach.’ The beach was hours away by bicycle, forbidden, completely out of all bounds. Going there risked expulsion,” (38). Finny is probably fully aware of the risks, but in his rule book to go to the beach is perfectly safe. Unlike Gene who automatically states the rules that the school provides, and follows them to play safe. On a nice on the school’s grounds Finny creates a game a game unlike any other. “Since we are all enemies, we can and will turn on each other.” (31). Phineas does not think upon teams, winners, or losers. He just wanted to play a game, and apparently all the others were too boring. Gene would not think of a game that played the idea of everyone being enemies; the idea probably sounded completely absurd. Gene plays life safe and by the rules, and Finny makes up his own rules and morals, somewhat literally.

                While yes the boys are best friends on the surface; Gene is haunted by the guilt that reality brings, and Finny isn’t even aware of his universe, to see that the ‘friendship thing’ isn’t working. To Gene winning is so important, while to Finny it isn’t. Finny could care less about his grades in school, unlike Gene who is quite intellectually intelligent. Thirdly Gene plays by the rules, while Finny breaks them down so he has room to build his own. Whoever told you opposites truly attract lied, for clearly there must be a common liking or else the opposites will continue to repel.