Finny is my favorite character and is undoubtedly the most unique character in the novel. In almost every way imaginable, he seems like the perfect person. What makes him unique is the fact that none of his personal qualities affect him mentally. He is consistently a good-natured character who has never seen or thought of anyone in a hostile manner. Finny seeks enjoyment out of the little things in life, and this works to make him even more likable.
However his biggest flaw is his social unawareness. In other words, he has an unwavering belief that others share his positive outlook on life. Ultimately, doubt about Finny's character by close friends combined with Finny's own ignorance lead to him being severely injured. Being the best athlete in the school, all he could do was hope for the future, but everything else that Finny held close to his heart was also slowly being stripped from him due to a terrible chain of events. The continuous tragedies that plague Finny make him a character that is extremely difficult to empathize with, but having sympathy for Finny is inevitable as the plot unfolds and captivates the reader.
This book and your favorite character seem interesting and although Finny’s tragedies made it hard to understand what they are going through, their overall experience can be relatable. It is hard to believe that there are people that do not have their best interest in heart. People are gullible to the fact that everybody is good and there is a lot of jealousy in the world. I will definitely consider reading this book after reading your response.
ReplyDeleteDifficult to empathize with, but easy to have sympathy for. That's been a reoccurring theme in many of the books we have read up until this point. The world repeatedly proves this correct as we constantly put others down in order to bring ourselves up. It's unfortunate that people make it a purpose in their lives to torment the rest of the population. Unfortunately for Finny, the things that happened to him cannot be undone. I really want to read this book now.
ReplyDeleteI've always believed that to be truly carefree and happy, a person has to either lack a sense of consciousness or actively choose to ignore the negative aspects of the world they live in. I'm wondering if Finny truly has trouble understanding his surroundings or, like you briefly mentioned, if he's just choosing to look away from the mess and horrors of the war. Maybe he knows what he's going to see if he ends up serving in the war and wants to retain a sense of innocence for as long as he can. I think I might give this book a read because this concept seems interesting to me.
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