What evidence suggests Gene's perception of Finny changes after the fall?

• A. Memories reveal jealousy and self-justification, eventually leading to admission of his role in the accident.
• B. Memories reveal pure objectivity.
• C. Memories reveal Gene was always innocent.
• D. Memories are unreliable and omit details.

Answer: (A)

Gene’s memories after the fall reveal a shift from admiring, almost idealized regard for Finny to a growing sense of jealousy and self-justification. As the narrative moves into flashbacks, Gene grapples with insecurity about Finny’s effortless charm and leadership, which stirs envy rather than pure reverence. That inner conflict colors how he recalls the leap from the tree and the accident itself, turning his recollections into attempts to rationalize or downplay his own responsibility. The most telling moment is when Gene’s account cues a realization of his own guilt and culminates in an admission that he played a direct role in causing Finny’s fall. This sequence—jealousy leaking into self-justifying memory, followed by confession—shows a clear change in how Gene perceives Finny, from a flawless hero to a complex, fallible person we are forced to confront through Gene’s own memory. The other options don’t fit because the memories aren’t presented as purely objective, nor as always innocent, nor as omitting details; instead, they reveal an evolving self-awareness and acknowledgment of his actions.