Cliff Quackenbush

Name: Cliff Quakenbush
Description: decribed as having a "tough, bantam body", mature, very disliked, treats others lowly
Age: 17
Job: Student at Devon, manager of crew team
Relationships: no one likes him, Gene especially

Symbolism: Cliff Quackenbush is the bully to Gene and actually brings gene to the level of punching him. Cliff is like the muscle headed person that just keeps the war going to show himself off. I chose Arnold Schwarzenegger as a good picture to resemble this symbol.



Character analysis: Cliff Quackenbush is a very bully-like person at Devon. The fact theat no one likes him adds to that thought. "... and to me there only came a disliked edge of Quackenbush's reputation." (Knowles 76) Quackenbush also treated people with disrespect and almost like they were lower than himself. "I didn't want to add to his humiliations; I even sympathized with his... egotism..." (Knowles 78)

Character-Theme-Tie-In: Quackenbush is shown in the book almost as what Gene could almost be if he keeps acting the way he does pushing people out of trees. He could become an animal like Cliff; a hot-tempered, testosterone-driven man who is disliked by his peers.

Finny

Character Name: Phineas (Finny)

Description: five feet eight and a half inches tall. weighed 150 pounds. not spectacularly built, like most athletes.
Age: 17
Job: Student at Devon, athelete.
Relationships:Best friends with Gene. Friends with Leper

Symbolism: Finny is a symbol of peace. like a dove.



Character Analysis: Finny is an athletic person who isenergetic and vibrant person. He had the ability to talk people into things with his charisma. "Why did I [Gene] let Finny talk me into stupid things like this?" (Knowles 17) Finny also finds the best things about people and doesnt think anyone is capable of doing him wrong. He is also very loyal to his friends. "Finny had practically saved my [Gene's] life" (Knowles 32)

Character-Theme-Tie-In: Finny is the theme of peace in the novel. Without Finny around, Gene seems to have "wars" inside of himself, fighting back his guilt. On the other hand whenever Finny is around, Gene sort of becomes absorbed into Finny's world and completely ignoring everyone else. Finny seems to be everyones friend and when he's around the Devon students, they always seem to be happy or at least enjoying themselves.