Has anyone read A separate peacE?

Question

Can you explain the symbolic meaning behind either of Finny' falls or The staircase? Please help!

Answer 1

In my opinion the staircase represents Finnys life. He has made it to the top and all of a sudden something makes him trip and fall and die. The stopping of Finnys heart could represent that he died of a broken heart because he was forced to realized that Gene made him have a broken leg. Hope that helps!

Answer 2

1st fall- the first fall is symbolically Gene's "act of war" against Finny, its part of the war/peace dichotomy motif. It brings about the war's arrival at Devon, and the war is a symbol for adulthood, so in essence, its the start of the transition between childhood and adulthood.

2nd fall- shows how Finny is the immortal child, how he IS the essence of careless peace. See Finny is special, because he is able to learn things without chaos, BUT he has to do it on his own time, so when the "truth" about his first fall is forced on him, he can't handle it and runs away from it

Staircase- they take away Gene's guilt, or at least some of it, because when he comes back to Devon, he realizes the hardness of the stairs, and sees that it wasn't entirely him that killed Finny, the stairs were unnaturally hard

Answer 3

Finny falling (the tree) symbolizes Gene and Finny's relationship weakening and falling apart.