unconditionally. The name Phineas dates back to biblical times. The character Phinehas from the Bible never acts from any private jealousy or sense of personal wrong. His interest lies in the honor of God and the safety of God's people. Phineas, a popular name among Puritans in the 17th century, perfectly fits Finny's pureness. In killing Finny, Gene destroys something beautiful. Gene is "not of the same quality as he [Phineas]" (51). Even after everything Gene has done, Finny still forgives him before dying because Gene "does not know what he did." Finny takes Gene's burden with him and removes Gene's sin, as Jesus did for mankind when he was crucified on the cross. Finny and Gene show man's inner capacity to hate and demonstrate how mankind always ruins what they can't understand.
             Gene must confront the darkness in his heart or he will always be his own worst enemy. When Gene jounces the limb and causes Finny's fall, he brings out the "darkness" in his heart and capacity to hate. By committing such a savage act, Gene loses his innocence, as well as his hatred. Although Gene appears to
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