To be an opposite of something or someone means to be the furthest from being like that person or object. One can say this for Gene and Phineas in the short story "Phineas" by John Knowles. Through reading the story one comes to see that Gene is an exact opposite of Phineas. One could say that Gene is insecure, envious, an admirer, intellectual and vindictive. In contrast, Phineas is unconcerned, self- assured, influential, outgoing and athletic.

The story begins, and we are first introduced to Gene, who narrates the story. It is quickly apparent that Gene is insecure. An example of this occurs when he finds out that he is room mates with Phineas. "I had seen him at a distance around the school the previous winter, and gotten the impression he was bigger than I."(J. Knowles, 100) This quotation shows our first introduction with Gene's insecure character. One can see this because he immediately assumed Phineas to be "bigger than I,"(100) instead of waiting to meet him and then forming an opinion that maybe Phineas would be pleasant. His first impression of him was as a bully, therefore, we think that Gene is afraid of him, which would make him insecure. Another example of Gene's inse

As we can see through the reading and analysis of the short story "Phineas," one can see that Gene and Phineas were foils of one another. Phineas was unconcerned, self-assured, influential, outgoing and athletic. On the other hand, Gene was insecure envious, an admirer, intellectual and vindictive. These traits show Gene and Phineas to be opposites.

In contrast to Gene, we have the antagonist Phineas. Phineas is a very unconcerned person. Many things which some people find very important, Phineas just blows off, because he does not feel strongly about them. An example of this occurs when Gene describes how Phineas acts. "His enjoyment of singing and his inability ever to be on key, the score of fourteen he got on a Latin examination,"(102) This quote shows that these things may embarrass some people but, they don't bother Phineas. He really does not mind that he can't sing well or that he failed Latin. He is unconcerned about many things. Another example of this occurs when Gene is trying to convince himself that he is, of course, very much like Phineas. "He wasn't so unlike me, so peacefully himself, unconscious of conflict and rivalry."(105) This quotation shows how Phineas overlooks the outside world. It seems that he just sits and hums to himself. He does not notice people fighting or competing. He just has fun. This shows how he is unconcerned.

Phineas also shows us he is self assured. An example of this occurs at the beginning of the story when Phineas first met Gene. "The first day, standing in our comfortless room amid his clothes, he began to talk and I began to listen."(100) This quotation shows how Gene just began to listen to Phineas, as if Phineas had something very important to say. For Gene to be drawn to Phineas, he most likely spoke confidently. Also, Phineas just began talking and Gene listened. Phineas projected himself as confident and this is why Gene listened. Another example occurs when Gene was discussing how Phineas is endlessly kidded. "We searched for endless ways to get at him for a while and then we realized that it was impossible, because he never forced himself up." (102) This quotation shows that Phineas has the confidence to laugh it off when people bugged him. He just did not care when they said stuff about them. This shows that he was self- assured and he did not need the approval of the others.

curity occurs just after Gene and Phineas meet. "That first day, standing in our comfortless room amid his clothes, he began to talk and I began to listen."(100) This quotation shows that Gene was too afraid to say what he wanted. He did not have enough courage even to interject when Phineas was talking. This shows that Gene was insecure about his ideas and point of view.

Also, Phineas is very influential. We see this especially with Gene. An example of this occurs when Phineas and Gene are studying. "With Phineas sitting next to me day after day like some guiltless Doubting Thomas, I began to wonder not

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Approximate Word count = 2002
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)