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A Separate Peace - Phineas And Gene - Term Papers

A Separate Peace - Phineas And Gene


Phineas and Gene: A Comparative Study
To be an opposite of something or someone means to be the furthest from being like that person or object. One can say this for Gene and Phineas in the short story "Phineas" by John Knowles. Through reading the story one comes to see that Gene is an exact opposite of Phineas. One could say that Gene is insecure, envious, an admirer, intellectual and vindictive. In contrast, Phineas is unconcerned, self- assured, influential, outgoing and athletic.
The story begins, and we are first introduced to Gene, who narrates the story. It is quickly apparent that Gene is insecure. An example of this occurs when he finds out that he is room mates with ...

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make him insecure. Another example of Gene's insecurity occurs just after Gene and Phineas meet. "That first day, standing in our comfortless room amid his clothes, he began to talk and I began to listen."(100) This quotation shows that Gene was too afraid to say what he wanted. He did not have enough courage even to interject when Phineas was talking. This shows that Gene was insecure about his ideas and point of view.
Throughout the story we also see Gene to be very envious of Phineas. An example of this occurs when Phineas and Gene were discussing sex. " I wasn't going to be opened up like that suitcase, to have him yank out all my thoughts and feelings and scatter them underfoot."(101) This quote shows how Gene was reluctant to tell his stories to Phineas. He did not feel that Phineas should know about him. This would leave us to believe that Gene does not want to tell Phineas these stories because Gene is afraid of what Phineas might conclude. Gene may also be ...

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but because he was jealous and wanted to be like him. "I never forgot, and that evening I put on his pink shirt, neatly laundered, in a drawer."(110) This quotation shows that Gene thought highly of what Phineas wore. Even when what Phineas wore was not all that great, Gene still admired the clothing and looked up to him. Gene liked the attention that Phineas got from his clothes and, Gene tried on Phineas's clothes because he wanted to have that same apparent air of confidence that Phineas had. This constant preoccupation with Phineas often got Gene side tracked.

Gene was very involved in school, one could say that Gene was intelligent. An example of this occurs while Gene ...

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A Separate Peace - Phineas And Gene. (2005, May 13). Retrieved April 19, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Separate-Peace-Phineas-And-Gene/26805
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"A Separate Peace - Phineas And Gene." Essayworld.com. May 13, 2005. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Separate-Peace-Phineas-And-Gene/26805.
"A Separate Peace - Phineas And Gene." Essayworld.com. May 13, 2005. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/A-Separate-Peace-Phineas-And-Gene/26805.
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PAPER DETAILS
Added: 5/13/2005 12:24:21 AM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 2005
Pages: 8

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