“I lost part of myself to him then, and a soaring sense of freedom revealed that this must have been my purpose from the first: to become part of Phineas”

The entire story revolves around a boy’s transformation after his evil demented minute of fame. The theme here is transformation. Before Phineas, he was a smart kid, very studious, the type of student that would go on to become a doctor or a world famous lawyer. During and after Phineas, he changed completely, but he didn’t change himself. He was changed, he was touched by Phineas and his ideologies. He claimed it his purpose to become part of Phineas, it was what his life at Devon was to become. After he maimed Phineas, he felt like he owed it to him, like in order for both of them to achieve peace is to have both bodies live in one. It was Gene’s job to transform, to evolve with the times. He says soaring sense of freedom, a careful choice of words to use. He felt relieved, like an epiphany he had. At that time he knew that in order to be free, he had to be freed from the guilt and sorrow he held for almost killing his best friend.