A Separate Peace Chapters 4-5

Chapters 4 and 5

Gene and Finny wake up on the beach.

"The beach shed its deadness and became spectral gray-white, then more white than gray, and finally it was totally white and stainless, as pure as the shores of Eden." (42)

"Phineas, still asleep on his dune, made me think of Lazarus, brought back to life by the touch of God." (42)

Are "Eden" and "Lazarus" appropriate descriptions for the beach and Finny respectively? Why or why not?

Finny is careless with the time needed to get back.

Gene barely makes it back in time to take his test.

"I flunked it; I knew I was going to as soon as I looked at the test problems. It was the first test I had ever flunked. But Finny gave me little time to worry about that." (43)

How does Gene feel about this situation? How does he feel about Finny's role in the situation? Are these feelings justified?

Gene detects a competition between himself and Finny.

"'Don't give me that line. Nobody at Devon has ever been surer of graduating than you are. You aren't working for that. You want to be head of the class, valedictorian, so you can make a speech on Graduation Day-in Latin or something boring like that probably-and be the boy wonder of the school. I know you.'" (44)

What does Finny value? Is it the same as Gene? Does he really know Gene?

"Phineas would be the first to disclaim any great mental power in himself. But what did go on in his mind? If I was the head of the class and won that prize, then we would be even." (44-5)

"He gave me that half-smile of his, which had won him a thousand conflicts. 'I'd kill myself out of jealous envy.' I believed him. The joking manner was a screen; I believed him." (5)

Do you think Gene is right? Is it just a screen?

Gene is consumed by his epiphany.

"The Suicide Society continued to meet every evening, and I continued to attend, because I didn't want Finny to understand me as I understood him." (49)

Does Gene understand Finny?

Does Finny understand Gene?

"Holding firmly to the tree trunk, I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb." (52)

• Was Gene thinking through his actions?

• Why did Gene do it?

• Does Gene immediately regret his choice?

"...everyone talked about Phineas to me. I suppose this was only natural. I had been right beside him when it happened, I was his roommate." (53)

"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." (53)

Faced with the reality of his choice, how does Gene reflect on his actions?

Gene puts on Finny's clothes and..."I had no idea why this gave me such intense relief, but it seemed, standing there in Finny's triumphant shirt, that I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again." (54)

Why does Gene feel guilt? Even in his guilt is he selfish?

"'I remember I turned around and looked at you, it was like I had all the time in the world. I thought I could reach out and get hold of you.'

I flinched violently away from him. 'To drag me down too!'" (57)

Why does Gene jump to this conclusion?

"I don't know, I had a kind of feeling. But you can't say anything for sure from just feelings.... I'm sorry about that feeling I had." (57-8)

How does Finny's recollection resonate Gene?

"My own voice sounded quiet and foreign. 'I jounced the limb. I caused it.' One more sentence. 'I deliberately jounced the limb so you would fall off.'" (61-2)

How does Finny take this revelation?

Does the truth set Gene free?

"'You aren't going to start living by the rules, are you?'

I grinned at him. 'Oh no, I wouldn't do that' and that was the most false thing, the biggest lie of all. (63)

Gene makes poor choices and faces the consequences

Man vs. Self

Man vs. Man

Introduction

Learning objective: I can identify changes in Gene through the epiphanies he has throughout the novel.

Gene asks Finny about the perceived competition.

Gene attempts to do the right thing

Actions and Consequences

Finny's shattered leg means no more sports-walking again will be the triumph.

Photo based on: 'horizon' by pierreyves @ flickr