Charatcer Traits Phineas And Gene Essay, Research Paper
Phineas and Gene: A Comparative Study
To be an antonym of something or person means to be the furthest from being like that individual or object. One can state this for Gene and Phineas in the short narrative & # 8220 ; Phineas & # 8221 ; by John Knowles. Through reading the narrative one comes to see that Gene is an exact antonym of Phineas. One could state that Gene is insecure, covetous, an supporter, rational and revengeful. In contrast, Phineas is unconcerned, self- assured, influential, surpassing and athletic.
The narrative begins, and we are foremost introduced to Gene, who narrates the narrative. It is rapidly evident that Gene is insecure. An illustration of this occurs when he finds out that he is room couples with Phineas. & # 8220 ; I had seen him at a distance around the school the old winter, and acquire the feeling he was bigger than I. & # 8221 ; ( J. Knowles, 100 ) This citation shows our first debut with Gene & # 8217 ; s insecure character. One can see this because he instantly assumed Phineas to be & # 8220 ; bigger than I, & # 8221 ; ( 100 ) alternatively of waiting to run into him and so organizing an sentiment that possibly Phineas would be pleasant. His first feeling of him was as a bully, hence, we think that Gene is afraid of him, which would do him insecure. Another illustration of Gene & # 8217 ; s insecurity occurs merely after Gene and Phineas meet. & # 8220 ; That first twenty-four hours, standing in our comfortless room amid his apparels, he began to speak and I began to listen. & # 8221 ; ( 100 ) This citation shows that Gene was excessively afraid to state what he wanted. He did non hold adequate bravery even to come in when Phineas was speaking. This shows that Gene was insecure about his thoughts and point of position.
Throughout the narrative we besides see Gene to be really covetous of Phineas. An illustration of this occurs when Phineas and Gene were discoursing sex. & # 8221 ; I wasn & # 8217 ; t traveling to be opened up like that bag, to hold him jerk out all my ideas and feelings and disperse them underfoot. & # 8221 ; ( 101 ) This quotation mark shows how Gene was loath to state his narratives to Phineas. He did non experience that Phineas should cognize about him. This would go forth us to believe that Gene does non desire to state Phineas these narratives because Gene is afraid of what Phineas might reason. Gene may besides be loath to state Phineas because of his insecurities, because he may experience that his narratives are non every bit good as Phineas & # 8217 ; s and he does non desire Phineas cognizing that. This would demo that he is covetous of Phineas. Gene besides knows he is covetous but tries to speak himself out of the idea. & # 8220 ; He might be the best natural jock in the school, the most popular male child, but I was winning where it counted & # 8221 ; ( 105 ) This citation shows how Gene really admits that Phineas is better than him. However, we know that it upsets him because he adds, & # 8220 ; I was winning where it counts & # 8221 ; ( 105 ) This shows that he merely needed to add in something to seek to conceal his covetous side. By stating that Phineas was popular and is a good jock shows that Gene is in denial of his covetous side toward Phineas.
Though Gene is covetous, he is besides an supporter of Phineas. An illustration of Gene look up toing Phineas occurs after Gene gets a just grade on his study card. & # 8220 ; It took one hatred to get the better of another. I hated him at that minute ever seeking to demo me up, to acquire retaliation for my emanation of A & # 8217 ; s and his D & # 8217 ; s. Damn him. I jumped. & # 8221 ; ( 106 ) This citation shows how Gene jumped merely because Phineas said he should. This would turn out him to be an supporter because he followed Phineas & # 8217 ; s every move. He did non make this because he loved Phineas, but because he was covetous and wanted to be like him. & # 8220 ; I ne’er forgot, and that flushing I put on his pink shirt, neatly laundered, in a drawer. & # 8221 ; ( 110 ) This citation shows that Gene thought extremely of what Phineas wore. Even when what Phineas wore was non all that great, Gene still admired the vesture and looked up to him. Gene liked the attending that Phineas got from his apparels and, Gene tried on Phineas & # 8217 ; s apparels because he wanted to hold that same evident air of assurance that Phineas had. This changeless preoccupation with Phineas frequently got Gene side tracked.
Gene was really involved in school, one could state that Gene was intelligent. An illustration of this occurs while Gene and Phineas are analyzing for their History trial. & # 8220 ; I didn & # 8217 ; t do good in that class: that is, I got a B. & # 8221 ; ( 104 ) This citation shows how Gene & # 8217 ; s school and instruction are really of import to him. We know this because he got a B and he studied for it. This besides shows he is ambitious because he got a high class and he was trusting for a higher class. Another illustration of his intelligence occurs when Gene finds out his Latin grade. & # 8220 ; I wasn & # 8217 ; t deceived by that astonied, happy smile of his when he learned I & # 8217 ; vitamin D scored the highest class in Latin, or his blunt inquiries about how I balanced trigonometry equations in three stairss while he took twelve. & # 8221 ; ( 105 ) This citation shows how Gene does really good in his categories because he scored the highest grade in his category. He is besides really good at trigonometry. One can besides see how much better Gene is in his surveies than Phineas, besides that he is rather intelligent.
Finally, we see that Gene is a revengeful individual. We see this when Gene is in Phineas & # 8217 ; s infirmary room. & # 8220 ; Yes, of course. I was contending for air in this close room. & # 8221 ; ( 113 )
This quotation mark chows that Gene is a revengeful individual. We know this because he is seeking to writhe the narrative so that Phineas will believe him. This shows that Gene was seeking retaliation on Phineas because Gene is covetous of Phineas & # 8217 ; s achievements, and because of that he made him fall from the subdivision. An
other illustration of this occurs when Gene is speaking about Phineas and how unconcerned Phineas is. “We searched for ways to acquire him for awhile and so realized that it was impossible, because he ne’er forced himself up.” ( 102 ) This citation shows how Gene wanted to make something to Phineas to acquire back at him. Phineas had non done anything to Gene, but the fact that Phineas ne’er got cut down made Gene want to make something to cut him down to their degree.
In contrast to Gene, we have the antagonist Phineas. Phineas is a really unconcerned individual. Many things which some people find really of import, Phineas merely blows off, because he does non experience strongly about them. An illustration of this occurs when Gene describes how Phineas Acts of the Apostless. & # 8220 ; His enjoyment of vocalizing and his inability of all time to be on cardinal, the mark of 14 he got on a Latin scrutiny, & # 8221 ; ( 102 ) This quotation mark shows that these things may abash some people but, they don & # 8217 ; t bother Phineas. He truly does non mind that he can & # 8217 ; t sing good or that he failed Latin. He is unconcerned about many things. Another illustration of this occurs when Gene is seeking to convert himself that he is, of class, really much like Phineas. & # 8220 ; He wasn & # 8217 ; t so unlike me, so peacefully himself, unconscious of struggle and rivalry. & # 8221 ; ( 105 ) This citation shows how Phineas overlooks the outside universe. It seems that he merely sits and busynesss to himself. He does non notice people contending or viing. He merely has merriment. This shows how he is unconcerned.
Phineas besides shows us he is self assured. An illustration of this occurs at the beginning of the narrative when Phineas foremost met Gene. & # 8220 ; The first twenty-four hours, standing in our comfortless room amid his apparels, he began to speak and I began to listen. & # 8221 ; ( 100 ) This citation shows how Gene merely began to listen to Phineas, as if Phineas had something really of import to state. For Gene to be drawn to Phineas, he most likely radius confidently. Besides, Phineas merely began speaking and Gene listened. Phineas projected himself as confident and this is why Gene listened. Another illustration occurs when Gene was discoursing how Phineas is infinitely kidded. & # 8220 ; We searched for eternal ways to acquire at him for a piece and so we realized that it was impossible, because he ne’er forced himself up. & # 8221 ; ( 102 ) This citation shows that Phineas has the assurance to express joy it off when people bugged him. He merely did non care when they said material about them. This shows that he was self- assured and he did non necessitate the blessing of the others.
Besides, Phineas is really influential. We see this particularly with Gene. An illustration of this occurs when Phineas and Gene are analyzing. & # 8220 ; With Phineas sitting following to me twenty-four hours after twenty-four hours like some guiltless Doubting Thomas, I began to inquire non whether history was existent, but whether it was important. & # 8221 ; ( 104 ) This citation shows that Phineas had an influence on Gene. One knows this because Gene is ever really serious about his school work and now we see Gene non believing so earnestly. This occurs because of Phineas, Gene is with Phineas twenty-four hours after twenty-four hours. Phineas & # 8217 ; s wonts are now rubbing off on Gene and act uponing Gene & # 8217 ; s work wonts. Another illustration occurs in the same country of the narrative. & # 8220 ; I knew Finny was interfering with my surveies, and so I began to surmise why. I was smarter than he was. He couldn & # 8217 ; t stand that. & # 8221 ; ( 104 ) This citation shows how Phineas has an consequence on Gene & # 8217 ; s school work. Gene even admits it. Therefore, we know that Phineas has an obvious influence.
In add-on, Phineas is besides surpassing. An illustration of this occurs when they go out to leap off the tree. & # 8220 ; He stripped to his underpants and began scrambling up the wood rounds nailed on the side of the tree. At last he stepped onto a subdivision which reached out a small farther over the water. & # 8221 ; ( 105 ) This citation shows he is surpassing because he can mount the tree, which is high from the land and the subdivision, which is a long manner out. Besides, he is traveling to leap from the tree to the H2O. While making this he is in danger of falling non in the H2O, but on the land. This shows he is surpassing, and foolhardy. Another illustration occurs when Phineas is in the infirmary. & # 8220 ; Phineas would state nil behind my back. He would impeach me face to face. & # 8221 ; ( 112 ) This citation shows he is surpassing because he had the backbones to state, something dissing right to person & # 8217 ; s face. Not many people have the bravery to make this. Phineas does non care what anyone & # 8217 ; s reaction may be to his remarks.
Phineas is besides athletic. An illustration of this occurs when he is boasting to Gene. Gene says, & # 8220 ; He excelled at any athletics because he had ne’er realized that a participant had to work for old ages to get the hang one wholly co-ordinated motion, such as singing a golf club. & # 8221 ; ( 103 ) This citation shows how Phineas did good at athleticss. He was besides incognizant that it took so much work to be a good jock because he was good at the first attempt. This shows how of course athletic he is. Another illustration occurs in the infirmary when he hurt himself and the physician says that his athleticss are finished. & # 8220 ; Sports are finished. As a friend you ought to assist him confront that and accept it. & # 8220 ; ( 111 ) the quotation mark shows that now he won & # 8217 ; t be able to play athleticss. The physician says this because athleticss must be a figure one thing for Phineas if he needs a friend to interrupt the intelligence.
As we can see through the reading and analysis of the short narrative & # 8220 ; Phineas, & # 8221 ; one can see that Gene and Phineas were foils of one another. Phineas was unconcerned, self-confident, influential, surpassing and athletic. On the other manus, Gene was insecure covetous, an supporter, rational and revengeful. These traits show Gene and Phineas to be antonyms.
