me because students may be sent off to war at any moment. Although the boys view pictures of the real war, they cannot really understand what it is like. A perfect example of such an individual is Phineas. He is Genes roommate, closest friend, and best athlete in the school. Phineas wants desperately to be a part of that real war. He explains to one of the teachers at Devon , Mr. Patch-Withers that, "When you come right down to it the school is involved in everything that happens in the war, its all the same war and the same world, and I think Devon ought to be included." (Knowles p.20) The fact, is however, that Devon is not a part of the real war. However, Knowles wants the reader to understand that for the boys at Devon, the war outside is the focus of curiosity; they know it exists but they do not understand it. The reader first sees the competitive aspects of war as Gene summarizes the suspected enmity between himself and Finny. He/she sees the almost insane way in which Gene talks to himself. His comments suggest an attitude toward life and friends suddenly damaged by the reality of wartime conditions. It is important to recall Finnys argument that there can be no friendships and alliances in war. Gene begins to believe that, "we were even after all, even in enmity. The dead rivalry was on both sides after all." (Knowles p.46) The wartime psychology, the effects of leaping from the tree, of blitzball (a game developed by Finny), and the general atmosphere at Devon all converge to shatter emotions of trust and sincerity. It is easy under these circumstances for Gene to convince himself that Finny is his enemy, that Finny has consciously sought to undermine Genes opportunities to excel in his studies. Finnys theory that there is no war has more been designed as a defense for himself. The truth is that Finny would like to go to war, to be a great soldier, to win in war as he has always done in sports at Devon. But now, on crutches be...
