Essay on A Separate Peace and Gene

Submitted By pistolpete45acp

Words: 549

Pages: 3

Open Document

In the novel a Separate Peace by John Knowles two schoolboys become entangled in each other’s lives. They shield themselves from there problems only to face the grim reality that is the world. What Knowles is trying to say is that this youthful innocence and openness is no longer a positive trait in the world we live in today. The most obvious area where we see this innocence is when Gene tries to tell Phineas that he hurt him. Phineas completely rejects this and refuses to believe that such a thing could ever happen. Gene, trying to explain to Phineas says very plainly “I caused it” referring to Phineas’ accident. Phineas gets aggravated with this and refuses to believe it sending Gene out saying “Go away. I’m tired and you make me sick.” Phineas obviously knows what Gene says is true but refuses to believe it due to his innocence. It is because of this innocence that he can make himself believe that his best friend Gene would ever do such a thing to him.
The next example is when Phineas has to come to grips with the entire situation. There is a war on, he has no use in it and his best friend has hurt him. All of this unravels with an important meeting where many others discuss what was thought only to be just a rumor. Here Leper points out the truth to everyone, even Phineas. Responding to “The one who moved first shook the other one’s balance!”, a statement from a spectator, Leper says “I suppose so.” It is at this point that Phineas must realize what Gene did and that it happened. He can no longer pretend it would never have happened. At this point Phineas had to let go of his innocence and come to this shocking realization.
The final example is when Phineas has to realize that he will have no part whatsoever in the war. Up to this point Phineas had been writing to various people

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 Gene Character Analysis

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 turmoil as the novel progresses. The many events Gene goes through…

Words 814 - Pages 4

Gene Forrester: A Separate Peace Essay

Point of view: the story a separate peace is told in fp pov by gene forrester. Gene tell his story in retrospect while visiting his former boarding school in new Hampshire. We the readers are led to many point of view confusions, as we can never be sure which emotions belong to teenager gene and adult gene telling the story. The narrator is unreliable because we don’t know if gene is lying or capable of telling the truth after all these years. Plot: Exposition: Gene and Phineas are best friends…

Words 893 - Pages 4

A Separate Peace Gene And Finny's Relationship

author of A Separate Peace, was born in 1926. Like Gene and Phineas, Knowles was 16-years-old and attended a boarding school in New Hampshire. In the book Knowles mentions the U.S. Army Air Force. This has a special meaning to the author because after he graduated, Knowles joined the U.S. Army’s Air Force Aviation Cadet Program. In A Separate Peace, while Gene has conflicting feelings about Finny and their relationship, he is still more emotionally mature. Throughout A Separate Peace Gene has many conflicting…

Words 1025 - Pages 5

A Separate Peace Gene And Finny Comparison

In the book “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles the two main characters named Gene and Finny; they are both different from each other but also the same. A few ways that Gene and Finny are different is that Gene is better in school and almost at the top of his class and Finny is only average getting C’s and D’s in his studies. An example of Gene being more serious is when Finny tells him that Leper is going to jump out of the tree and Gene snaps at Finny, Gene said “Studying! I snarled. Studying! You…

Words 563 - Pages 3

A Separate Peace Gene And Finny Character Analysis

In a separate peace by John knowles, two unlikely friends, Gene and finny, create a strong friendship at their competitive and lonely boarding school named devon. Fear is a dangerous beast to overcome, it is something that affects and determines your actions and choices. An intellectual and selfconscious Gene constantly struggles with his fear of losing his beloved friend finny, along with a fear of not amounting and achieving his high expectations he sets for himself. Gene constantly struggles…

Words 641 - Pages 3

Character Analysis Of Gene And Finny In The Novel 'A Separate Peace'

In the novel “A Separate Peace” cultures collided between two young men resulting in the destruction of their lives. Because of envy and jealousy one of the characters questioned their sense of identity causing him to commit a terrible mistake. First of all,The two main characters in this novel are Gene and Finny which they considered themselves as best friends. Gene is the narrator and protagonist he is thoughtful, intelligent, an introvert and very competitive. Finny on the contrary is very outgoing…

Words 369 - Pages 2

Essay APUSH Book Review 2

Book Review #2 A Separate Peace by John Knowles John Knowles’ critically acclaimed novel, A Separate Peace captures the psychological mindset of a boy as he transitions from childhood to adulthood. A Separate Peace is told through a series of flashbacks, as Gene Forrester, now an adult, recalls the pleasant, but also painful memories spent at Devon. The plot and setting of A Separate Peace were largely inspired by Knowles’ own experiences at Exeter. Knowles wrote A Separate Peace to explore the rivalry…

Words 1100 - Pages 5

Symbolism In A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace is a novel with many different symbols within it. Readers have the opportunity to create their own conclusions to what these symbols could represent. One of these such symbols is within the novel’s title itself. A reader can draw several different conclusions about what the title could mean. A reader could make the conclusion that “A Separate Peace” could represent a type of peace that all of the students at Devon are trying to achieve. Another representation someone could conclude…

Words 484 - Pages 2

Summary Of The Novel 'A Separate Peace' By John Knowles

The novel A Separate Peace written by John Knowles, is a realistic fiction novel.“ A Separate Peace” not only is it taken place at an all boys boarding school, but it’s a story about how Gene and Finny (the two main characters) are two different people but become best friends. The setting of A Separate Peace reveals that Gene is hardworking, achieving, and a mediocre athlete. The Setting of A Separate Peace reveals that Gene is a very hard worker and it is shown through various ways. Gene would rather…

Words 312 - Pages 2