676 Kosinski, Jerzy
boys begin the novel as very different people. Gene
is immature and competitive. Finny is carefree
and charismatic. Knowles illuminates many themes
through the relationship between the two boys,
including the theme of violence. Violence mainly
appears in the text in two aspects, through the inci-
dent at the tree and through the war that the boys
are preparing to face after graduation.
The incident at the tree is perhaps the most
important scene in the book, and it is the sole loca-
tion of actual physical violence taking place. In the
beginning of the book, Gene and Finny become
friends, despite their differences. Through the next
several chapters, Gene begins to be jealous of Finny.
Finny is a natural athlete, and everyone likes and
admires him. Gene also starts to believe that Finny
is acting like his friend only to keep Gene from his
studies. Because of this, he becomes more competi-
tive toward Finny. This jealous competition comes
to a head one evening while the pair are perform-
ing their ritualistic jump from a tree branch into
the river. Finny makes a sincere and kind remark to
Gene, and the latter realizes that their competition
has been only in his imagination. This realization
makes Gene angry. When Finny reaches the end of
the branch, Gene bends his knees, causing Finny to
fall and break his leg.
Admittedly, this is a minor act of violence.
Physical contact is not even made between the two
boys involved. However, the ramifications of this
act propel the novel forward. It leads to Finny’s
inability to play sports and Gene’s subsequent
guilt. It also leads to Finny’s death and Gene’s
maturation.
In addition, the act itself is very telling of Gene’s
character at the time it occurs. In the beginning of
the book, Gene often is competitive, jealous, and
petty. When he realizes that Finny does not share
those qualities, he lashes out. Instead of discussing
the issue with Finny, he causes him to break his leg.
Gene responds as a child, showing his immaturity.
Interestingly, though, it is the repercussions of this
act that enable him to grow as a person. Through
Finny’s forgiveness, Gene becomes more mature and
comfortable with himself. Though Gene’s violence
shows his immaturity, it becomes a vehicle for his
growing up.
The second example of violence in the novel is
the war that the boys face after graduation. During
the time frame in which the story takes place, both
the Pacific and European theaters of World War II
are in full swing. However, the novel only alludes
to the war. In the story, no soldiers die and no guns
are fired. The war is present solely in how it affects
the boys at the school. Many of the boys respond to
the war with fear and hatred, but others have more
specialized reactions. For example, Brinker boasts
about the prospect of going to war, while Leper, who
chooses to enlist before graduation, eventually goes
AWOL and becomes insane, pointing to the pos-
sible consequences of violence.
The implications of these two examples of vio-
lence in the novel seem to contradict each other.
Gene’s act of violence in breaking Finny’s leg shows
his immaturity, and he grows up only after his
remorse and Finny’s ensuing forgiveness. In a sense,
he matures only after moving past violence. On the
other hand, what awaits the boys in the adult world
is violence. What is supposed to represent maturity
to them, i.e., being an adult, carries with it some of
the greatest death and destruction the world has
ever seen. Perhaps the idea is that life is a war, and
the key to maturity is picking your battles and deal-
ing with them responsibly. Or perhaps Knowles is
suggesting that humanity has some growing up to
do. Either way, the violence in the story has a last-
ing effect on all the characters involved and on us
as readers.
Ryan NeighborskoSinSki, jErzy The Painted Bird
(1965, 1976)
Jerzy Kosinski’s The Painted Bird brutally portrays
a child’s struggle for survival during wartime. Set
in German-occupied eastern Europe during World
War II, the novel tells the story of a young boy sent
by his parents from his home in the city to the coun-
tryside, where they hope he will be kept safe. The
boy, whose name we never learn, is instead forced
to wander from village to village seeking shelter.
Because of his dark complexion, he is in danger not
only from the occupying Nazi army but also from
villagers who often torment him. The boy is six at