Charm and Glamour
Alex Krzyston .Charm and Glamour. Alex J Krzyston .Charm and Glamour. Alex James Krzyston
“Manipulate (v.) to manage of influence by artful skill, often by unfair tactics” (Webster’s dictionary).
Alexander Krzyston .Charm and Glamour. Alexander J Krzyston .Charm and Glamour. Alexander James Krzyston
Alex Krzyston .Charm and Glamour. Alex J Krzyston .Charm and Glamour. Alex James Krzyston
Manipulative people are devious, crafty, cunning, scheming and sneaky; they influence those around them in order to help themselves. They use their own skills and talents to their advantage. When someone is manipulating others they twist around words and trap others into thinking one way; they influence others to side with them. People who manipulate others use flattery and charm to compliment. They escape facing up to the results of their actions. In A Separate Peace John Knowles creates Finny, a character who always finds a way to weasel out of trouble and get others to follow him.
To begin with, a person who is manipulative wins others over by flattery and escapes responsibility for their actions. Finny is such a person. His skills are winning others over by charm and flattery which he uses to his advantage. “His eyes gave their wider, magical gleam and his voice continued on a more compelling level and he smiled pleasantly.” (28) Finny uses his charm and flattery on others to escape responsibility for his actions. As stated by Gene, “Finny was able to get away with anything at all. He got away with everything because of the extraordinary kind of person he was” (28). Finny never gets into trouble because he charms and compliments those he is escaping. In tight situations Finny uses his charm and flashes his gleaming eyes to dazzle those who would punish him. By twisting around the words Finny manipulates situations to best suit himself. “…sour and stern Mr. Patch-Withers had been given a good laugh for once, and he had done it.”(28) When Finny was wearing his tie as a belt and was about to get in trouble with Mr. Patch-Withers he got out of trouble by making a joke out of it. By telling the joke Finny broke down Mr. Patch-Withers which gave him an advantage because they were no longer talking to each other student to teacher but as friends. This is what Finny does; he presses his advantages and looks for a flow of friendliness with whomever he is talking to. Finny’s careful use of words, dazzling eyes, and colorful personality gets him out of accepting the consequences of his actions.
To end with, a manipulative person influences and persuades those around him to get what they want. Finny is always trying to come up with crazy ideas and get others to follow him. “Finny could shine with everyone, he attracted everyone he met.” (38) Again Finny uses his charm and glamour to influence others in order to get them to follow him. As Gene states, “Cocking his head at me, then he slowly looked around at the others with the expression of dazed determination he used when the object was to carry people along with his latest idea.” (37) This shows Finny thinking of a way to manipulate others to follow him. He does this by making his ideas seem better than others. “. . . this idiot tickler, the only thing it’s good for is eeny-meeny-miny-mo.” Finny says this about the badminton birdie when he is aggravated about the fact that he has to play it instead of a “real” sport. Once Finny finds a ball he invents blitzball and calls it a “real” sport because it involves a ball. He makes blitzball seem like it would be more fun than badminton because it is a “real” sport as Finny states it. Finny is master of persuasion who persuades others into following him. He persuaded hid friends into playing blitzball, by calling it a “real” sport. Finny is a leader not a follower; his character thrives on finding followers by manipulating them it to going along with his latest idea.
Finny uses his charm, glamour, and flattery to escape his responsibilities and find people who will follow along with and his crazy ideas. He is devious and crafty just as most manipulative people are. Manipulators act as friends and trick others to follow them. Manipulative people look to take the lead and take control. They lead those they tempt and trick. They use temptation and persuasion against those they call friends. Manipulators are neither friends nor allies; they are the worst enemies one can have.
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