Phineas and Gene: A Comparative Study Throughout the story, Phineas and Gene, the two main characters, showed a number of contrasting traits. Phineas was a confident, non competitive, naive, irresponsible, and unintelligent person throughout the story, whereas Gene, Phineas' roommate, was insecure, competitive, mature, responsible, and intelligent throughout the story.Phineas had a confident nature in everything he did. As Phineas and Gene first met, they noticed they were both the same height, but Phineas, being confident, said, "Where did you get that dizzy shirt?"(100). Only a person with extreme confidence could have insulted someone they just met because the other person could h ...view middle of the document...
After a small argument between the two, Gene gave in and admitted to himself that his shirt was dizzy by saying, " It was right"(103) when replying to a rude comment Phineas made on his shirt. If Gene was more secure in his own choices, he could have stood up for himself, and not let anyone cut him up or insult his choice of shirt.One definite difference between Phineas and Gene was their competitive natures. Phineas was a naturally talented athlete who excelled in every sport he played and did not have the need to compete with others. An example of Phineas just finding the fun in sports and not being competitive occurred when he was discussing football with Gene. Phines explained, "In a sport you've got to be loose..you have to invent something new all the time"(104). When Phineas said this, he explained how he enjoyed the fun out of games and not the aggressiveness about it. When Phineas was explaining football to Gene, he stated, "It's just like those damn push-ups and knee-bends today,"(104). Phineas did not like the fact he had to follow rules and maps, he just wanted to enjoy the activity. Gene, however, was very competitive, especially toward Phineas. Gene did not like the fact that Phineas was a natural athlete, so when he would beat Phineas in school, he became very happy. Gene stated, "He might be the best natural athlete in the school, the most popular boy, but I was winning where it counted."(105). Even though he and Phineas were not in competition, Gene always managed to try and be on top. Gene was aware that Phineas did not excel academically, but in his mind he believed Phineas "was trying to take me in; he hated the fact that I could beat him at this"(105), although Gene knew Phineas had no desire to compete with him.Phineas and Genes' personality also differed in the area of maturity. Phineas was a very naive boy whose every move was very innocent and harmless. An example of Phineas being naive occurred when Gene was describing the acts that Phineas performed innocently where no one could cut him down, but if another person committed the same acts they would instantly be ridiculed. Gene explained how for all Phineas' acts, " felling them was unthinkable."(102). This proved that Phineas was naive because for a person to commit such acts, they must have an innocent attitude, which Phineas obviously had. Gene also explained how "Phineas was the essence of this careless peace." This quote explained how Phineas must have an inner peace within himself that is emerged to others, therefore his actions are passed as innocent games. Phineas may be innocent and naive, but Gene proved to be somewhat mature for his age. One occasion where Gene proved to be mature occurred when he admitted to himself that he almost started to like Phineas as he stated, "I almost liked him, even"(105). For one to admit they like the person who they are trying their hardest to hate takes maturity as the person is forfeiting their opinions to try and mak...
