Every seven years you become a new person. If we think about our bodies and minds through a scientific lens, this statement is actually true; every cell in our bodies renews over time and scientists claim that this process occurs during a seven year cycle. If our biological being changes, are we really the same people we once were mentally and emotionally as well?
The influence our environment has on us is undeniable and responses and reactions to circumstances we either fall into (like Finny falling from the tree) or are forced to face (like Caesar's impending coronation) can often impact who we are and who we become. In Chapter 10 of A Separate Peace, Gene visits Leper and it is clear that after his return from the war, Leper has changed. How have other characters, particularly Gene and Brutus, changed thus far? Trace their development from our first impressions of them to their current states. In what ways are they changing and what factors are prompting these changes?
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson
18 comments:
When we look at Gene during chapters 10-11, we notice that now the reality of the war is coming to hand. We he visited Leper, he look on reality has changed and so has he. Leper is now bitter and cold about life. The fact that he was discharged on mental issues reveals that not even a carefree soul like he could handle the war’s true nature. Gene now realizes that the war messes with not only the body, but the mind. Leper’s change is dramatic compared to Brinker who just became a little rebellious and had a change in clothes. We see Brutus as a loyal friend of Julius Caesar but as character like Cassius convince him to possibly join the conspiracy. Brutus becomes more and more against Caesar and gains more of a dislike of him as well. The signs from the storm of usual events have given Cassius the ability to convince others to agree with him, including Brutus.
Just like there are those that change, there are those that almost never change. Finny’s character never changed even when the unthinkable happen. He is like Gene, but while Gene runs from his problems, Finny denies them. He will let nothing change his life or view the world as a great place.
Many characters in the book go through many variations. Charlotte looks mostly at one mental state, but I see the morals being more important. The two characters Brutus and Gene have very serious changes going through them. Some changes are positive and some are not so much. Brutus turns sour while Gene becomes sweeter. However, each change occurs due to the experiences that person has.
Brutus was originally a good man who always followed the rules established. He would never back stab a friend. In the play he defended Caesar from being killed. He also spoke his mind when a matter was troubling him. It is also seen in the play that Brutus talks to Cassius about the plausible upcoming problems with Caesar's rise to power. As the play progresses we see him become a more negative and devious person. Brutus joins the cause to kill Caesar and appoints himself to the head. In the play Brutus makes decisions about who the "enterprise" should recruit. He also becomes more tight lipped about talking about his problems. Portia, his wife, addresses how he does not speak to her about his problems when it is so evident that they exist.
Gene actually gains better character as the play goes on. At the beginning he is heavily suspicious of everything positive someone else does. In the book Gene freaks out about studying because he thinks Finny is trying to sabotage him and be at the head of the class. Gene is also self orientated at the beginning. He goes to visit Finny because he broke Finny's leg. He feels bad and wants to make Finny feel better so he can feel better. By Chapter ten, Gene becomes a more selfless person. He goes visit Leper because he wants to make sure he is alright. Leper called for help and Gene answered out of good will. Gene is now less suspicious of people. He sees actions done by Finny as genuine acts to deep their friendship like the Winter Carnival. That event was to cheer everyone up and that is exactly how Gene saw it.
Email: Nicocoup@msn.com
Gene and Brutus seem to have changed a lot since the beginning of their respective stories. This has happened in other stories that we have read ( Walter and Benetha in A Raisin in the Sun) and seems to the characters which need the most help or most change when compared to everyone else in the story.
When we first met Gene, he was very closed off and antagonizing. When he first met Finny and started to become friends with him, he had very harsh feelings towards Finny. He thought that Finny was out to get him and was only being friendly to get a competitive edge over Gene. Now, Gene actually seems to appreciate Finny as a friend, especially after the tree incident.
When we were first introduced to Brutus, he was an honest and real person. As he became more involved with Cassius and his conspiracy, he started to be more troubled and more estranged. He has been having trouble sleeping and as we have seen, he seems to be filling more of a leader role.
Both Brutus and Gene make very clear changes throughout Julius Caesar and A Separate Peace. The motives behind their changes are opposite yet the
ways in which their personalities and outlooks change are similar.
Throughout A Separate Peace Gene starts to become more self confident and a better friend to Finny. In the beginning Gene is extremely jealous of Finny and is constantly suspicious that Finny is trying to get rid of him. His paranoia causes him to hurt his best friend. When Finny comes back to school he still considers Gene his best friend and is as loyal to him as before. Gene feels guilty and realizes that he has to be a better friend. He also becomes more confident and learns to go with the flow. He listens to Finny and starts training for the Olympics. The difference from early in the novel is that this time Gene feels good about what he is doing and not like he is Finny's puppet. He also becomes more independent, taking the initiative to go after Leper without the permission of Finny.
In many ways, the changes that Brutus goes through are either very similar or very opposite to Gene's changes. Gene was untruthful towards Finny and schemed against him but felt guilty and is now trying to make up for it. Like Nick said, Gene begins to trust people more and becomes more selfless as opposed to his previous selfish state.
Brutus, on the other hand, had always been loyal to Caesar but now he is becoming independent and plotting against him. In the beginning, Brutus appeared to be honest, humble, and mild-mannered. As Cassius manipulates him, Brutus starts to become more confident in himself and realizes that he needs to now be a leader. By Act II, Brutus begins calling the shots and stepping into the leadership role in which he was too scared and unable to be in before.
rugbynbailey@aol.com
Leper used to be a shy kid at Devon before he enlisted himself to the war. The war left a drastic affect on him and he suffers from a mental breakdown. Leper's memory of Finny's fall makes Gene feel guilty again about being the one who caused the "accident". Gene, in a way becomes Finny's opposite when Finny trains him physically and Gene gets the feeling of becoming another Finny. When Gene wears Finny's clothes, he can actually feel himself to become like Finny. Leper is like Finny's opposite; he wants to go through life by his own terms and he has a liking to skiing. For Brutus, he feels guilty for thinking Caesar is not right to be in power, like Gene feels Finny is not right to be liked and having the ability to excel physically. When Cassius uses the storm, just like Charlotte said as a persuasion to obtain followers, it changes the perspectives on Caesar and the common people by the sights of people opposed to Caesar in power. Brutus used to be a man who did not really mind Caesar in power until when he realized later in the play that Caesar is not fit for the ruler of Rome. When Cassius finally achieves his goal of having Brutus on his side, Brutus feels a bit wary of having to assassinate Caesar, so he instead makes terms of killing Caesar rapidly so it would be a quick and painless end to Caesar's life.
Changes occur every day whether it is physically or mentally. Because certain situations change human beings, it can either be for the better or for worse. As the audience continues to read A Separate Peace, they notice the difference in Leper when he comes back from the war. Before the war, Leper is a calm and peaceful character; however, after the war, Leper is psychotic and cruel. When thinking about Leper the readers are reminded of the changes that the other characters in the book and other pieces of literature have made.
In the novel A Separate Peace, Leper is not the only person who has changes. Finny is another character. Before the tree incident Finny is a happy, charming and athletic fellow at the Devon School. After the fall, it seems as though Finny has given up his athletic dreams and has passed them down to his best friend Gene. Although he has not lost his charm, it seems as though a part of Finny is missing without sports. It also seems like Finny is trying to fill his void by making Gene do more sports and try out for the Olympics. Finny, in a way, feels bad for himself although the other characters in the novel do not see – except Gene. Gene also goes through a change after the tree incident. Before the tree incident, Gene is self-observant and suspicious of other people – including his best friend Finny. In the early chapters, Gene feels like his relationship with Finny is just a mere competition. (Finny being athletic and Gene being intelligent.) After the tree incident, Gene becomes more aware of his surroundings and is a caregiver to Finny, as Nick Couper also said. Gene becomes more concerned about Finny’s well-being. He even begins to pity him as Brinker says in Chapter 11.
In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus also changes. In the beginning of the notorious play, Brutus is very loyal to Caesar and tries not to think of the conflict that could occur if Caesar ever gets power. After Cassius has a “talk” with him. Brutus begins to make a change. He realizes that Caesar does not deserve power and will not be able to handle it if it comes his way. Brutus, before the polite and selfless man, becomes selfish and cold-hearted.
Changes occur all the time. Sometimes the people and the places one has met and gone to changes their political opinions, behavior and even his/her physical state.
eo95@ymail.com
There is nothing wrong with change unless you are going in the right direction. Both Gene and Brutus change through out the literature pieces, as we read along. In the novel A Separate Piece Gene changes when he visits Leper in Chapter 10. Leper has changed dramatically throughout the story, and his change may have had an impact on Gene. When Leper tells Gene about his experience, Gene has an outburst, which makes me believe that Gene became very fearful about the war. Gene did not want to hear any more of what Leper had to say, because he was afraid of the truth. I agree with Caesar on how Gene has become more appreciative of Finny and depend on Finny more. Gene needed Finny after the outburst with Leper for comfort, and someone to talk to. He also continues to defend and get aggravated when someone mentions the incident of Finny “falling” off the limb. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus changes as well. In the beginning of the play, Brutus was a loyal friend toward Caesar and then he betrays Caesar. When he joins Cassius in his devious plans, it shows how Brutus betrays Caesar by wanting to take him out of power. Even though Brutus betrays Caesar, I still feel that he still a good person. He joined the conspiracy not knowing the truth on why they want Caesar out of power. Brutus is not power hungry, and is still concerned about the citizens. He is still very honest because he says there is no need to cover up their plans if it is for the good of the plebeians. Therefore you can see that both characters have changed throughout the literature works, whether it is for the good or for the bad.
biancasanabria13@hotmail.com
Change is inevitable, however, it does occur under different circumstances. John Knowles creates a character named Gene in his novel A Separate Peace, who is forced to undergo certain changes by the imminent World War II. He must choose to either mold his life to the setbacks and sadness that the war ensues, or simply pretend that none of it is happening along with his best friend, Finny. However, over time, Gene discovers that one cannot simply pretend there is no war and hope not to be effected. Gene's spirits are weakened over time, while his friendship is strengthened.
Changes of the opposite nature exist thus far for Brutus in Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, for as Brutus falls more deeply in with the conspiracy, his friendship with Caesar is weakened. Brutus' changes consist of more confidence. He begins to take on the role of a leader and succeeds in gaining agreement from the other conspirators. I disagree with Nick when he describes Brutus as becoming a more "negative and devious person." I do not see him in this way, for I feel his character to be more noble than the rest. He does not want to kill Antony in addition to Caesar, nor does he distrust the rest of the conspirators because he does not believe they need to take an oath to prove themselves trustworthy. Brutus sincerely believes that the death of Caesar would be best for the people and the greatest change in his character is that he is now willing to act on his beliefs.
Both Gene and Brutus are changing in order to withstand an upcoming fight; the fight itself might prove capable of further changing these characters. However, one can work with the changes to mold a new and better future.
Change is a natural and necessary part of everyone's life, pyshcially, mentally, and emotionally. Like Efe stated, change can be good or bad depending on the type of change that occurs. In A Separate Peace, and in The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Gene and Brutus are both changing.
After the tree incident with Finny, Gene goes through some changes. Before the accident, Gene was very envious and jealous of his best friend Finny. He always felt like Finny was trying to outdo him in some way. He was mainly paranoid about the fact that everything came easily to Finny like friends and being funny and his ability to change people's moods, so he had this strong hate towards Finny. After the accident, Gene still had some of that hate in him. He became closer to Finny and is beginning to realize that Finny isn't to blame for anything. He becomes more like Finny since Finny wants Gene to fulfill all his dreams that he no longer can do himself. Also, like Bianca said, after Gene visited Leper in Vermont, his perception of the war changed. He used to be ready for the war. He had the mindset that the war would just be like fighting people who want to hurt his friends, esentially. After seeing Leper, he learns that the war is much more than that. He learns that the war can drive people crazy and that it can change him in ways that he has never thought of. One of the main reasons that Gene is changing is that he sees that he hurt his friend and feels guilty. His conscience his eating him alive and making him suffer for what he did to Finny. So to fix his mistake, he has to do everything that is possible, even if that requires Gene to live Finny's life for him, to fix this mistake and all the evil thoughts he had about Finny.
In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus has changed as well. In the beginning of the play he was very unsure of his opinion about Caesar taking over. He wanted to support his friend but at the same time he wasn't sure that if Caesar took over that the people's needs would be put first. Then, when Cassius approaches him about this confilct, Cassius convinces Brutus that Caesar isn't worthy of having this much power and that Brutus is as capable as Caesar to rule over Rome. After Cassius changes Brutus's opinion, Brutus becomes a bit devious like the other conspirators. He decided to betray his good friend which shows that his character has surely changed for the worse. He made this bad decision to kill his friend and now he is just like the other men who are greedy and manipulating. Even though Brutus believes he is doing this for the good of the peole and doesn't know that he is being maipulated by Cassius, it still shows that he won't be one of the good guys at the end of the play.
kristie.varghese@gmail.com
In A Separate Peace, after Gene goes to visit Leper, he comes back as a changed person. I think by Gene seeing what can really happen to someone in the war, especially someone he knows, he now understands the true meaning of it. Gene used to think that “enlisting” in the war was almost like an exciting thing to do, not something meaningful and serious. As Charlotte said, the war does not just mess you up physically, but mentally like it did to Leper, and even to Gene just seeing Leper in that state.
Brutus on the other hand changes for a not so good purpose, while Gene becomes a better person. Unlike Gene, Brutus does not understand the meaning of friends. While Gene might have been a horrible friend, her felt bad and is trying to do better. On the other hand Brutus is just becoming a worse friend, and is planning on killing Caesar. Brutus is a very selfish person as is Gene, although the difference is what each character tries to do to change or fix themselves. Brutus does what he wants, while Gene tries to make things right.
At the beginning of Julius Caesar, Brutus was still trying to be a good friend to Caesar, just try and help his country too. Although by the second act, we can see his change is character when he becomes the leader of the conspirators trying to kill Caesar. These changes are brought on by others who greatly influenced him to join them.
Like in Julius Caesar, Gene also changes significantly thought the course of the book. In the begging he was jealous of his best friend , Finny and always thought he had to compete with Finny. As the story progresses, we see he tries to be honest, and accept the fact that he had permanently hurt his best friend. All Finny ever tried to do is be a good friend to Gene, and Gene was failing to see that until the end of the book.
raech629@verizon.net
If change did not occur life would seize to exist. Change is the ability to grow , both physical, and mentally. Were it not for change toddlers would not be able to grow into children, and a student would not be able to retain information that he/she learns. Whether change is good or bad I believe that it is necessary to the continuing of "living". In the beginning of A Separate Peace, Gene is a student at Devon who doubts his relationship with his best friend Finny, and is basically a follower when concerning Finny. After Gene causes Finny to hurt himself the roles of the friendship flip-flops. Now Gene becomes the caretaker of the “wounded lamb”. Finny is like a wounded lamb because as the accident Gene realizes Finny was nothing if not a good friend/innocent. He regrets his unruly feelings towards Finny, and therefore tries to make amends. The fact that Finny is different due to the injury, thus forces Gene himself and their relationship to change as well. I agree with Rachel when she says that Brutus's change was not a good one. Brutus starts out as a loyal patriotic friend of Caesar. He wants to do what's best for the people yet at the same time not go against his friend. As the story leads on Brutus starts to think more along the lines of the conspirators, and he even starts to step up as leader. An example is when the conspirators meet at Brutus's house, and Brutus calls the final "shots". Brutus opinion is more respected, and what Brutus contributes usually is seen as the “right course of action”. Slowly Brutus’s patriotic views are leading him into change, an example being the letters from the "people" various proofs from the people.
It is interesting that scientists claim our bodies renew themselves in a seven year period. In effect, not only does the biological being change, but mental thoughts and emotions also evolve. The truth is, we are not the same person we once used to be. In growing up, everyone experiences particular events and is introduced to different ideas: perceptions change, friends come and go, and objectives are revised. When someone describes an individual, he/she proclaims, “You are ‘you’” although the ‘you’ is always in transition. Maria Robinson indicates that the past is behind us, but we can always start fresh and pave a new path leading to a more desirable end. If we did not mature mentally and emotionally, we would be ill-equipped to experience reality and nature’s course leading us through life’s many passages.
Concerning our texts, Gene and Brutus now convey conflicting feelings, and appear to be altered since the onset of the stories. When first introduced, they are both innocent: predictable, content, and committed. Everyone knows where Gene and Brutus stand; they are loyal to their heroes and are unwavering. Gene idolizes Finny, and acknowledges to everyone that he is his best friend, until his inner conflict gets the best of him. Brutus is one of Caesar’s closest allies and staunch supporters, until Cassius plants the seed of skepticism.
After Gene jounces Phineas out of the tree and Cassius persuades Brutus to jump on the conspiratorial bandwagon, the characters’ behavior changes as well. Gene becomes a slave to his guilty conscience made manifest by his utter obedience to Finny. Brutus steps up to the plate and begins to take charge of the activities dealing with the conspiracy. The once reserved Brutus is now a capable commanding officer in the plot and is able to sway others’ opinions easily. The new worldly characters question and compromise themselves creating internal strife over time. Their objectives have been modified; they are obsessed with doing the right thing after their sobering personal encounters. Gene has to ingratiate himself to ensure that Phineas will forgive him; Brutus needs reassurance that the betrayal will benefit Rome in order to proceed with his collusive actions. As their allegiance wavers, their behavior becomes unpredictable. Both characters are subject to peer pressure (peers/nobles), are vulnerable to manipulation (Finny/nobles), are experiencing personal growth (guilt/skepticism), and are confronted by external realities (graduation/war). Gene and Brutus both aspire to “get on with it” and move forward in life.
I like how Rachel states that “the motives behind their changes are opposite, yet the ways in which their personalities and outlooks change are similar.” Although Gene and Brutus are situated in different scenarios and time periods, the two characters are transformed, exuding a self-confident behavior and taking the initiative to do what they believe is correct.
e.e.butler@comcast.net
There comes a point in time when we all need change. Change is necessary because it keeps things moving and in perspective. Change can be good or bad, but everyone faces one bad time or another, and that is what makes us as people grow. In the texts that are being read, Brutus and Gene are both quite predictable. Everyone knows where they stand regarding certain things. But as the readings progress one can see the evident changes that begin to occur. For example Brutus starts becoming more of a vocal leader in this group of conspirators. Because Cassius has filled his head with so much nonsense, he has started to believe it, and now sees himself as someone who should rule. I agree with Charlotte when she says that Finny almost never changes throughout the story. Whenever issues seem to arise, he just either brushes them off, or act like they dont even happen. That seems like a good trait to have, but there will come a point in time when Finny will have to change in order to keep to with society as a whole, and learn to adjust to certain things. Gene on the other hand did not act like a good friend towards Finny, even though Finny treated him with the utmost respect. The after the incident, Gene seems to like Finny more and appreciates him as a friend.
Throughout a Seperate Peace and Julius Caesar, Gene and Brutus have changed. In the beginning of a Seperate Peace, Gene is unsure of his relationship with Finny. He is also jealous of Finny. After he causes his accident, he realizes that Finny is his true friend. Gene matures and tries to help Finny. Brutus changes after his first meeting with Cassius. Cassius convinces Brutus that the people want him to take control and overthrow Caesar. Brutus begins taking leadership over the tribunes because he begins to believe everything that Cassius tells him. Cassius is manipulating Brutus. Brutus is fulfilling all of Cassius's commands. Brutus is convinced that he is doing the right thing but Cassius has something else in mind.
I agree with both Kristie and Bianca in the way that change is necessary. Everyone changes whether they like it or not, it happens as life goes on, no one ever stays to be the same person throughout their entire life. Gene and Brutus change drastically more than any other characters in both of the novel and play. In chapter 10 of A Separate Peace Gene changes after he visits a classmate of his who seemed to escape the war named Leper Lepellier. Gene witnessed first hand from Leper how the war completely altered the person whom he once was into a man on the break of insanity. When Leper explains to Gene what he went through in his time in war Gene goes absolutely ballistic and ends up running away back to Devon from Leper's home. I feel as if Gene was changed by Leper in a way that he realized that whenever his time comes the war may just change him the way it changed Leper.
In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus also changed greatly from the way he was at the beginning of the play. Brutus started off being at first a simple man who lacked confidence. After being pushed and all buttered up by Cassius he now comes off as feeling invincible he feels as if no one is good enough to tell him what to do, and because of the lies Cassius continually feeds him he becomes into a bigger and bigger monster like man. Both characters face changes more drastic than usual but these are just two cases in which change if for the worse where as in life change has its pros and its cons but all together it usually helps you out in the long run.
I agree with Rachel Cooper when she states that the changes made by Gene are making him a more confident person. After Gene pushed Finny out of the tree he had a mini revelation that not only is what he did wrong, but also thinking that his closest friend was out to get him made him rethink things. Gene learned not to be so jealous. Throughout their entire friendship up until this it was always Gene following Finny around, but since at a point Finny was home in New England this left Gene in a situation where he needed to live on his own. This situation led Gene to become a new person. He was now living in his own room, making his own decisions, going to his own places. Gene had grown, and then Finny came back. Gene was a new person and Finny was not used to that. Finny then changed Gene again and because of guilt Gene was lured into his trap. As for Brutus he is changing into a conspirator against his best friend.
syd1194@aol.com
I agree that our bodies drastically change over time. I am not so sure that exactly seven years has a bigger impact in the way people change rather than any other amount of years but, we do all change. Change is not necessarily a bad thing, it is good to change because we mature, become more experienced, etc. Without change, we would still act like we did when we were born.
Throughout the readings: A Separate Peace and Julius Caesar, characters are undergoing changes, but it does not take them seven years to change. I agree with Abijah because both Gene and Brutus are the characters that change the most. At the beginning of A Separate Peace, Gene is jealous of Finny and it is almost like a competition between the two. Gene begins to feel threatened by Finny. Later on in the story after Finny has his accident, Gene starts to feel guilty and he no longer is jealous towards Finny. At the beginning of Julius Caesar, Brutus is one of Caesar's best friends and it seems like he would never do anything against him. He is always in favor of Caesar. However, as Cassius starts putting things in his head about Caesar, his opinion starts to change and he becomes more open minded and easily manipulated.
Change is very important and thanks to change, we are all the people we are today.
Grlzluvemplaya1@aim.com
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