A Separate Peace: Character Analysis

Words: 423
Pages: 2
Open Document
In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the main characters struggle in a battle of honor and comradeship. After Phineas breaks his leg many boys’ eyes are opened to reality, after being in the fantasy of the summer session, they are awakened by the harsh winds of fall. Phineas’ incident tests the will and honor of a few students, some live through, and others perish. Gene, Phineas, and Leper are all caught in a tough situation in which they must choose between their friends, or the truth. The boys, tested beyond any military training, must choose to protect the lives and souls of the friends they hold most dear, or let them fall and drown in the painful truth. Leper, one of the first people tested in the battle between comradeship and honor,
Show More

Related Documents: A Separate Peace: Character Analysis

A Separate Peace Character Analysis

family and friends tremendously. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles demonstrates how he perceives this moral explicitly through character development and the plot line. For instnace, the characters begin to lose themselves once they are presented with new choices, challenges and feelings. Similarly, when people attempt to live vicariously through someone else, they may find it difficult to recognize their own identity. Throughout the course of A Separate Peace, Gene dislikes his identity. This causes…

Words 536 - Pages 3

A Separate Peace: Character Analysis

The fictional novel written by John Knowles, A Separate Peace, takes place in a boarding school for high school boys, Devon School, during World War II; the novel tells the tragic experiences of the young boys who attend school there and the problems that occur between them and how they struggle with these issues. The two main characters in the story, Finny (Phineas) and Gene, are best friends, but a strain becomes placed on their friendship; Gene becomes envious of Finny and feels there is competition…

Words 1286 - Pages 6

A Separate Peace: A Character Analysis

In the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles, a character called Finny creates a game that they decide to call Blitzball. The objective of the game is to get the ball from the tower to the river. There are not teams; therefore, everyone is trying to complete the objective by themselves or with an alliance. Having no teams is similar to war because, in war everyone is trying to keep themselves alive. Another rule is that players can turn on eachother. In war one doesn’t really know others true intentions…

Words 104 - Pages 1

Character Analysis Of Finny In 'A Separate Peace'

As the book concludes, Gene’s guilt towards Finny is shown in the final chapters. He feels that he was the cause of Finny’s fall and ultimately his death. On the last page of the novel, Gene states that “I killed my enemy” (204). His enemy would most likely be himself, for he has always been jealous and resented Finny. He has envied Finny for being innocent and also for his ability to have no enemies. By the end of the book, his resentment goes away. He is no longer jealous of Finny. Another example…

Words 260 - Pages 2

A Separate Peace Finny Character Analysis

has a very well rounded personality in A Separate Peace, By John Knowles. This is a story set at a boys boarding school in New Hampshire during World War Two. The novel mainly focuses on four different teenage boys: Gene, Finny, Leper and Brinker. They all go through different struggles throughout the novel. Some would say that the biggest attribute to Finny is his athletic abilities. While this is a major part of him, there is much more to his character. Finny was also very adventurous, forgiving…

Words 473 - Pages 2

A Separate Peace Gene Character Analysis

Gene was an evil person in John Knowles’ book, A Separate Peace, because Gene let the jealousy overcome his empathy for Finny, causing him to hurt his best friend. Gene purposefully jounced the limb while on the tree with Finny, causing him to fall and break his leg, crippling him Finny for life. Gene was overcome with jealousy and hatred towards his best friend Finny. Another reason to prove Gene was an evil person was when Finny got caught with the headmaster of Devon School, Gene secretly was…

Words 985 - Pages 4

A Separate Peace Finny Character Analysis

Finny In the novel A Separate Peace, Finny’s leadership involves a charismatic personality. I represent more of a “Finny” type personality than a “Gene” personality. For example, Finny excels at all of his hobbies, making his best friend jealous of his talents. I have many friends who are jealous of my numerous achievements, and one in particular has plotted against me. Because I have endured this situation, I relate to Finny’s frustration. My life revolves around offering my best, and if my best…

Words 314 - Pages 2

A Separate Peace Finny Character Analysis

root of his own downfall." A Tragic hero is different, this type of person, is hero who possesses a defect that brings about or contributes to his or her down fall. They have a flaw like pride or an error of judgement. Finny, from the novel A Separate Peace, is one of these heroes. Finny is considered a tragic hero because he does not accept the fact there is evil in the world, he thinks that everyone thinks like he does, and he loses everything he had. Finny refused to accept that there is evil…

Words 343 - Pages 2

A Separate Peace Gene Character Analysis

person goes through a time in their life where they lose a sense of who they are. A Separate Peace by John Knowles takes us on the journey of Gene, a student at the Devon School who is attempting to distinguish himself as an individual. Throughout the novel, Gene’s and Finny’s one-sided relationship proves to be a central part in driving Gene’s actions. Although initially portrayed as a studious and friendly character, Gene displays uncharacteristic acts of violence towards his peers due to his inner…

Words 814 - Pages 4

A Separate Peace By John Knowles: Character Analysis

A Separate Peace is a fictional book written by John Knowles, it takes place during WW1. The protagonist Gene tells the story from an adult perspective, looking back at his teenage years. The other main character in the book was Finny, he was Gene's best friend, and roommate, he helps carry on the book, and gives the book reason. The story's title is relevant throughout the book, it is also tied to everybody that is involved in the war. The theme of A Separate Peace is that even when things are going…

Words 667 - Pages 3