Finny even stated that "If a war can drive somebody crazy, then it's real all right" (Finny 155). Furthermore, the unknown reasons why Leper decided to enlist so early represents the boys" feelings towards war: it is a great unknown that covers their lives in darkness. In conclusion, Leper's actions presented themes about the realities of war, and its effects upon people.
Finny's characterization provides the innocent, childish side of the war. He immaturely believes that there is no war going on, due to the fact that he cannot participate in the war. While talking with Gene for the last time, he exclaims, .
"Why do you think I kept saying there wasn't any war all winter? I was going to keep on saying it until two seconds after I got a letter from Ottawa or Chungking or some place saying "Yes, you can enlist with us" Then there would have been a war." (Finny 182).
Another probable reason why he denies the war is because he cannot understand the concept of an enemy. He creates a game, blitzball, which symbolizes this characteristic of Finny. There are no teams, no allies, and most of all, no winning. Furthermore, in the last paragraph of the book, Gene states that everyone defends themselves from imaginary enemies, except for Finny, because he was immune to this hatred of an enemy, and he didn't understand it. Because of this failure to recognize an enemy, Finny brings about his own death. During the Brinker's crude trial, Leper is brought in and questioned about the events surrounding Finny's fall out of the tree. Soon, Leper is about to break the case wide open, then Finny jumps out of his chair and shouts "I don't care! I don't care!" (Finny 168). He proceeds to scurry out of the room as fast as he can, in order to avoid publicly discovering that his best friend broke his leg. He falls down the marble stairs in haste to leave the room. Afterward, the operation to reset his bone kills him.