Student Question
How can I start two letters from Gene in A Separate Peace, apologizing for his actions at the tree to Phineas and his parents?
Quick answer:
To start a letter from Gene to Finny, address it as "Dear Finny" to reflect their close friendship. Begin by expressing what Finny means to Gene, how he misses him, and then move into an apology, explaining Gene's actions at the tree and seeking forgiveness. For a letter to Finny's parents or other friends, Gene could address it to the "Super Suicide Members," admitting his actions, acknowledging the impact on their friendship, and proposing steps to make amends.
What if you wrote to Finny and then to the other boys at the school who are close to Finny? Gene hurts this group the most.
I would not say "Dear Phineas" because Gene almost always refers to Finny by his nickname. So after you address him as "Dear Finny," you could use your first paragraph to discuss what Finny means to Gene and how much he misses him as his roommate and friend at Devon. After that, it would be appropriate to get into the apology--what exactly Gene did, why he thinks he did it, and a petition for Finny's forgiveness.
In regards to writing the other boys, Gene could address it to the Super Suicide Members. This letter should be similar to the letter to Finny in that Gene admits to what he did, discusses how he realizes that by causing Finny's injury, he took away someone who...
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was a true friend to all the boys at Devon, and again ask for their forgiveness. Since Brinker seems to enjoy formal processes, Gene could make this letter almost like a resolution listing steps that he is willing to take in order to make everything right.
Good luck--it sounds like an interesting assignment. You might want to use the link below to get a better understanding of Gene.