The Importance Of Peace In John Knowles A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace: Gene’s Jealousy Friendship and jealousy are strong emotions with a fine line in between them. Gene and Finny’s friendship started how a normal friendship would. Then Gene becomes convinced that Finny is out to get him and is trying to ruin his life at Devon. Gene hates Finny because of this, and thinks the feeling is mutual between them as is written by John Knowles. “I felt better.

Months later, Finny finds out that Gene purposely jounced the limb. He is fuming with anger as he sprints out of the room. He then falls down the stairs and breaks his leg, leading to his death a few days later. Though Gene has the impression that his envy for Finny is going to be beneficial in some way, it limits him in all aspects of life. He is not capable of always living to the fullest and having gratitude for what gifts he has, such as academics.

Gene is already upset over Finny keeping his distance but now that he caused Finny to fall a second time which leads to his death he is broken. During the trial Finny yell at Brinker then abruptly leave, rushing down the stairs, he falls which everyone hears from the courtroom (John Knowles). After the second fall Finny is taken to a different area which Gene Finds. Finny forgives Gene then, he dies due to bone marrow going into the blood stream. Gene cannot forgive himself even though Finny forgave him.

Then later that night, Gene and Finny are pulled from bed by a group of several other boys from Devon and are questioned about what really happened before Finny fell out of the tree. Even Leper is questioned. When Leper begins to say that Gene purposely shook the branch, Finny stands up and shouts about how he doesn’t care either way, before running away, falling down the stairs, and breaking his leg a second time. Later, Gene sneaks into the infirmary where Finny is staying but he is absolutely furious, and makes him leave. The next morning he tries to visit Finny again, and they both agree that his actions on the tree was not on purpose.

Knowles uses characterization of Gene to show that he is envious which develops the theme one’s friendship with another may lead to the feeling of envy based on how much one friend is better than the other. Gene first envious in his thoughts. He was jealous at how Finny was able to talk his way out of trouble. It was hypnotism. I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away anything.

There we can finally see that Gene never cared about Finny even though Finny loved him like a brother, and did no wrong to him. Only a heartless, self centered person would laugh at someone in pain especially his fallen friend. As hard as it is sometimes evil things or people can destroy good works. The novel A Separate Peace definitely has the theme of good vs evil. The many struggles between good and evil can be observed in Gene and Finny's relationship.

Not to mention, the courage to disregard others’ opinions and not let it have a bearing on someone. August had to constantly fight the stares and rude comments for the way he looks. His personality is not any less attractive, and people should not see him as less worthy because he is, in fact, a funny, considerate, and brilliant boy. Of course, it also packs a valuable message that kindness and love triumphs all; “always choose to be kind” because one’s words and actions can severely affect someone. He marches on despite getting upset by other comments.

Hector is a man of peace, he is the holder of Troy, the perfect husband, son, father. In the other hand Achilles was rageful and self absorbed even so that his decisions end up hurting people, sometimes even to death. Both of them being the greatest warriors and heroes of the two parties make them foils of each other. Even so their personality is not the most important difference between them. Hector is a good man and has always praised the gods and its respected by them.

Finny does not have the will or work ethic to be an intelligent student like Gene is. His lack of work ethic is part of the reason why Gene becomes jealous of Finny because Finny is happy with not being a good student because he is a good athlete and has a charismatic attitude that makes him very likable. This helps emphasize Gene’s jealousy and insecurities. When Gene and Finny go to the beach, and Finny expresses that Gene is his best friend. This expression of friendship is too much for Gene.

He realizes that his thoughts don’t matter when he said, “It was awful thoughts and awful words, but they was said. And I let them stay said; and never thought no more about reforming” (242) Huck prefers to “go to hell” for Jim if it means he does not have to turn on him. Friendship overpowers society’s

Point: Leper is like a blender because he is all mixed up. Evidence: After Gene’s trip to see Leper he is fully convinced he has become crazy after the frequent crying and the absurd talk between the two characters. Sadly Gene finally admits it and confirms when Brinker says “I’ll bet he cracked up, didn’t he? That’s what happened.” referring to Leper.

A Separate Peace Wars are cruel, ruthless, and catastrophic. Lives are destroyed, and families are ripped apart. People are turned against each other, and seek to extinguish one another. “Of the past 3,400 years, humans have been entirely at peace for 268 of them, or just 8 percent of recorded history” (Chris Hedges, New York Times). In John Knowles, A Separate Peace, Gene Forrester, a foolish teenager, experiences his own war; a clash between friendship and insecurities.

Sean Duhey Mrs. Peeler 2 5/15/17 A Separate Peace A Separate Peace takes place Devon school in New Hampshire during the summer session in 1942. World War 2 plays a huge role with the students daily live and routines at school. The setting is key in the novel because Gene goes to different spots of the school where he had memories of Finny. Gene Forrester is the protagonist because he is the narrator of the the story he appears to be a middle aged man visiting his old school

Finny wore a pink shirt and used the Devon School tie as his belt to the traditional term tea for the Upper Middle class. Mrs. Patch-Withers noticed and Finny quickly came up with a convincing story to possibly get himself out of trouble. Gene thinks Finny will be busted and reacts by saying, “I could feel myself becoming unexpectedly excited at that” (Knowles 12). This quote shows the beginning of the envy Gene feels toward Finny. Gene is somewhat looking forward to the possibility of Finny getting in trouble for the first time.

John Knowles, author of A Separate Peace, uses both character development and setting to support his decision in selecting the title. He uses the main characters of Gene and Phineas (Finny) and their troubled yet deeply bonded friendship as a way to illustrate the separate peace that takes place both within the boys themselves and in the friendship that is built between the two. Knowles also uses the setting of the novel to demonstrate the vast difference between the peaceful Devon School grounds and the war raging outside of the school’s walls. The title, A Separate Peace, as chosen by the author is symbolic of the main characters, Finny and Gene’s, struggle to find peace within themselves and with each other while set in a place that significantly contrasts the events of the real world.