When Gene and Finny created the club, it showed signs of identity and belonging. Since other kids wanted something to belong to, the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session gave them a group that they could be a part of which gave them an identity.

This quote shows Gene's competitive identity with Phineas. He thinks Finny is constantly trying to compete and be better than him, but Finn is a naturally talented person that does well in most things.

Gene describes his old high school campus as very big and nice, although many typical high schools don't even have a campus style school. He also says things about living in a dorm and having roommates. His high school is obviously very prestigious, showing he is upper class.

..."In these past months Phineas and I had grown apart on this; I felt a certain disapproval of him for grumbling about a lost luxury, with a war on." (Knowles pg. 104)

This excerpt shows how they are used to upper class lifestyles, with Finn whining about losing their maids. There is a war going on, yet Phineas is upset about not having luxurious services. Gene understands that sacrifices need to be made and is getting frustrated with Finn.

Although they are teasing each other about jumping out of the tree, Finny only shamed Gene into jumping to make him proud of himself for overcoming his fear. This shows how strong their friendship is because they're trying to help each other.

Gene didn't think twice about going on a long journey to find Leper when he got the telegram. Gene was willing to make the trip immediately, for he considered Leper a good friend.

Gene feels so guilty about what he has done to Phineas, that he is changing the way he sees himself. Before he caused Finn to fall out of the tree he didn't see himself as a bad person.

This confession really showed that Gene was maturing. Though Finn is Gene's friend, Gene owned up to his wrongdoing knowing he might lose him as a friend.

Gene had never really pushed himself when it came to physical exercise, but the extra effort he put in made him realize he is capable of more. It shows he is growing up and putting more effort into what he does.

Gene was so attached to Finny that his death made him feel numb. He realized how influential Finn was in his life, and he felt that a big part of him died with him too.

Novel: "There was nothing to distract me as I made my way across a wide yard, called the Far common, and up to a building as red brick and balanced as the other major buildings, but with a large cupola and a bell and a clock and Latino over the doorway--the First Academy building." (Knowles 11)

Article: " It picked me up out of the hills of West Virginia, forced me to learn to study, tossed me into Yale (where I was virtually a sophomore by the time I entered)"

Article: "Gene Forrester is the novel’s narrator. Quiet, introspective, and insecure, Gene admires Finny but envies his confidence and independent spirit. He impulsively causes Finny’s fall. Gene returns to Devon after fifteen years, still seeking to understand himself and his betrayal of Finny."

Novel: "I began to examine each one closely, and finally identified the tree I was looking for by means of certain small scars rising along its trunk, and by a limb extending over the river, and another thinner limb growing near it. This was the tree." (Knowles 14)

Novel: "Don't be a sap," ... "There isn't any war." (Knowles 115)

Article: "Throughout the book, Knowles shows how people attempt to keep their innocence, in order to evade the pain that might come without it.

First and foremost, Finny is a sensitive person, and he does everything he can to hide things from himself, so he doesn’t end up getting hurt. One of these things is the war. WWII is the center of everyone’s life at the time, yet Finny is desperate to find a way to avoid uncovering the truth about it."