What Does Finny Symbolize In The Summer Session

In order to show the change from boys to men, John Knowles uses symbolism in summer and winter sessions through Finny and Gene’s relationship and the war. The author uses symbolism in the different school sessions to show how the war causes the boys to grow up. In the summer, Gene and Phineas are careless and free-spirited boys who just want to have fun. They are a little rebellious, but in the summer session, the teachers do not punish them. The author states, “We reminded them of what peace was like, of lives which were not bound up with destruction”(10). The teachers are lenient because they see how young and wild the boys are since they don’t have to worry about the war just yet. The summer session symbolizes youth and innocence because

In the summer session, Gene does everything that Finny says to do, even if it involves breaking the rules. Because Finny shatters his leg, Gene ends up coming back to Devon in the winter alone. The winter session symbolizes hard work and maturity because Gene grows up at Devon by focusing on his studies and learning more about the war. When Finny comes back to Devon, the author states, “‘Enlist!’ cried Finny at the same time. His large and clear eyes turned with an odd expression on me… ‘You’re going to enlist?’”(62). Finny is shocked that Gene and the other boys are thinking about enlisting for the war because he is still acting as if it was the summer session, where the war did not really matter. Since Finny has been away for awhile, he missed the time period where the boys at Devon matured and started thinking about their futures. Finny and Gene’s relationship has changed and there is a wall between them that almost breaks their friendship; however, the two remain close friends. The author shows how many of the boys have transitioned into men through the separation of Finny and

Although Gene and Phineas go through rough situations, they always stick by each other (23). The summer session symbolizes friendship and unity because Finny, Gene, and the other boys grow up doing everything together. In the winter, Gene and Finny are more divided because of Finny’s broken leg. They start to go their own ways, but are friends again when Finny returns to school. When Gene finds out what happens to Finny, the author states, “‘This is something I think boys of your generation are going to see a lot of,’ he said quietly, ‘and I will have to tell you about it now. Your friend is dead’”(116). The doctor’s statement shows how the boys are forced to deal with situations that they did not need to before. Gene is shocked at Finny’s death because he needs Finny. Since Finny dies in the winter before becoming a man, the winter session symbolizes separation and growing up. Gene matures without his best friend and returns to Devon many years later. Finny is never able to become part of the war effort or reflect on his life like Gene. Even though the two boys are friends from the start, they end up taking their own paths towards