Finny Character Analysis

Words: 393
Pages: 2

Gene is a complicated character who is full of his insecurities that are revealed partly through Finny’s dominance. Gene’s insecurities stem from his shy personality, unathletic stature, and unsocial approach where as Finny is the complete opposite. Finny is portrayed as the superior in his friendship with Gene throughout the novel. Finny is constantly pushing Gene to do whatever he fancies and later on do various chores for him. When Finny and Gene go to the beach together it is clear that Finny is the orchestrator of the day. Gene is pondering whether to go or not because he has a test the following day, but Finny persuades Gene to go anyways. “...I wanted to maintain in my life, and it also involved a kind of long, labored bicycle ride I hated. …show more content…
It is clear that Gene seems always to follow Finny; most likely, he prefers not to be alone or to have a companion. Similarly, when the day is coming to a close at the beach, Finny insists on going for a “short swim” (50) whereas Gene is hoping Finny will realize that it is getting late. Gene is afraid to speak up to Finny: “... before I could say anything he was trotting down the beach” (50). Subsequently, Finny, Gene, and some of their friends create the Super Suicide Society for the summer. The members of the society have to jump off the same tree that causes Finny’s accident every meeting, which occurs nightly. Gene describes it, “I hated it. I never got injured to the jumping. At every meeting the limb seemed higher, thinner, and the deeper water harder to reach...I felt a flash of disbelief that I was doing something so perilous” (34). Gene’s insecurities have caused him to subordinate himself, making Finny have a control on him. Similarly, Gene acknowledges that Finny’s control is describes as “his life was ruled by inspiration and anarchy”