The tone of this novel is mainly longing for the past, nostalgia because this novel is written in the main character Gene's point of view with memories reflecting back 15 years on when he was 16 years old in the Devon boarding school of him and his roommate Finny.
“Looking back now across fifteen years I could see with great clarity the fear I had lived in, which must mean that in the interval I had succeeded in a very important undertaking: I must have made my escape from it” (Knowles 10)
Another tone of the story is just happiness, because of the friendship that is formed between Gene and Finny and how they both improve their lives for the better.
"We were the best of friends at that moment.... I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn't help envying him a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little" (Knowles 18)
This quote shows the friendship that was formed and Genes thoughts on Finny how he always envied him.
“Looking back now across fifteen years I could see with great clarity the fear I had lived in, which must mean that in the interval I had succeeded in a very important undertaking: I must have made my escape from it” (Knowles 10)
Another tone of the story is just happiness, because of the friendship that is formed between Gene and Finny and how they both improve their lives for the better.
"We were the best of friends at that moment.... I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn't help envying him a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little" (Knowles 18)
This quote shows the friendship that was formed and Genes thoughts on Finny how he always envied him.