Why does Gene cry when he speaks to the doctor in A Separate Peace?

When Gene speaks to the doctor following the surgery, the
doctor tells him that Finny's leg had sustained "a messy break," and that although he
will walk again, he will never be able to play sports as he used to. Gene reacts by
bursting into tears, crying

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"...for Phineas and for (him)self and for this
doctor who believed in facing things. Most of all (Gene) cried because of kindness,
which (he) had not
expected."

Phineas had been
naturally gifted with a flowing athleticism; sports had been as much a part of his life
as breathing. Gene knows that to suddenly be rendered incapable of participating in
sports would be especially devastating to Finny. He cries for Phineas because of the
magnitude of his loss.

Gene cries for himself because of
his complicity in causing the accident that has maimed Finny. Finny looks at Gene as his
best friend, and in a moment of confused and hidden resentment, Gene has betrayed that
friendship and inflicted a serious injury on one who has no ill-will towards him, and
values him the most.

Dr. Stanpole is a skilled and
sensitive man who sees a lot of pain and suffering, but he is practical, and insists on
looking at things realistically and making the best of bad situations. I believe Gene
cries for the doctor because his stoic acceptance of the destruction he sees everyday
has a certain poignancy. He is a man of feeling who faces life head-on and takes things
as they come. Somewhere deep within himself, Gene understands that, because of the war,
Finny's injury is only the beginning of the pain and suffering the doctor will have to
witness, and accept with a stiff upper lip.

Gene cries
because of the unexpected kindness with which the doctor speaks to him. Because of the
knowledge of his own guilt, he does not feel that he deserves it. In addition, when a
person is trying to control huge and heartfelt emotions, kindness has a tendency to
penetrate his defenses and cause him to lose that control, allowing feelings to burst
forth in an avalanche of tears (Chapter 5).