A Separate Peace
why does the outdoor setting make it hard to hate finny
why does gene not hate finny
why does gene not hate finny
To Gene, Finny is someone akin to a Greek god. I'm not kidding, Gene worshipped the guy. Finny was often at his best in the outdoors. He is good looking, athletic, fearless....At times Finny seems to meld with the natural rhythms of the New England countryside. Gene's relationship with Finny is a paradox. Gene resents him for his effortless flair and excellence. Gene also loves him for the same reasons. I'm not using the term "love" loosely either. There is a strong argument to make fore homo-erotic undertones here. In any case Finny is very much part of elements. Both the reader and Gene are faced with pondering how much the "accident" changes their interpretation of Finny.