A Separate Peace Essay - 753 Words

A Separate Peace Dealing with enemies has been a problem since the beginning of time. â€Å"I never killed anybody,† Gene had commented later in his life, â€Å"And I never developed an intense level of hatred for the enemy. Because my war ended before I ever put on a uniform, I was on active duty all my time at Devon; I killed my enemy there.† In A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, the value of dealing with enemies is shown by Gene, who was dealing with few human enemies, but his emotions created far greater rivals than any human could ever posses. One of the enemies that Gene created for himself was jealousy. Gene was jealous of everything about Finny. The openness which Finny possessed was one of these things which Gene envied. One incident of†¦show more content†¦The real war, however, started when he got the idea that because Finny had low grades, he wanted to lower Gene’s grades as well, so he could remain â€Å"better than† Gene. Gene believed that Finny was trying to wreck his studies with games and going to the beach, and their Secret Suicide Society. Another time Gene’s anger shows is when Finny wanted Gene to come jump off the tree into the river with him, as they had been doing, and he claimed that Leper would be jumping too. Gene burst out angrily at the idea because he was studying, and he thought Finny was trying to wreck his grades, so he said no. Finny responded with no offense taken. Gene not being able to say â€Å"no† to Finny changed his mind and went to the tree anyway. Gene was now enraged on the inside because he realized that Finny was not trying to wreck his studies, and really was â€Å"perfect.† Still feeling angry by Finny’s â€Å"perfection,† Gene jounced the limb when they were about to jump, causing Finny to fall and break his leg. This shows that Gene’s anger, mixed with this jealousy, drove him to cause physical pain to someone who was dear to him. Another enemy of Gene’s is Finny’s modesty. Early in the story, Finny demonstrated his modesty by when asked for his height he replied â€Å"Five feet eight and a half inches.† Gene replied that he himself was â€Å"five feet nine inches.† Finny pointed out that they were the same height and that Gene shouldn’t be ashamed toShow MoreRelatedAllusion In A Separate Peace1412 Words   |  6 Pages â€Å"My god, what energy. You sound like General MacArthur† (Knowles 66). The historical allusion of the novel called A Separate Peace is when Finny compared Gene with General MacArthur. General MacArthur was a Five Star General and a Chief of Staff of the US Army during the World War II. Through his hard work, he managed to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor and be known as a very dedicated leader. Finny compares Gene with General MacArthur, because he looked like there was something importantRead MoreEssay On A Separate Peace1916 Words   |  8 PagesA Separate Peace Honors English Essay By Devin E. Price From juvenility to maturity, A Separate Peace combines classic American Literature with a thoughtful plot-line that is developed to affect the readers’ mind and heart. The author, John Knowles of Fairmont, West Virginia, had one clear purpose for writing this book. This purpose was to show the disastrous mental and physical problems which arise as the result of war, specifically the repercussions they have on the home front. A goodRead MoreA Separate Peace Analysis865 Words   |  4 Pagestypically endure. The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles focuses on the friendship between two teenage boys, Gene and Phineas, who are the exact opposite of one another. It is told from Gene’s point of view as he journeys through adolescence while attending one of the most prestigious boarding schools in America during World War II, Devon. Gene learns that when times are difficult he can move past his struggles by latching onto an idea, hope, or an essence of peace. A s he matures, it is clear thatRead MoreA Separate Peace Analysis745 Words   |  3 PagesJohn Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is about a few boys at a boarding school in New Hampshire. The story is centered around the friendship of two boys, Gene and Finny, at a boarding school in New Hampshire. Although in the beginning of their friendship Gene did not trust Finny, by the time he dies Gene feels as if a part of him has died, showing that he still felt closely bonded to him after all they had been through. Gene’s trust towards Finny first subtly comes through after returning fromRead MoreSummary Of A Separate Peace1859 Words   |  8 PagesJoseph Post Mrs. Weber    English 9 Honors, Period 2    Oct 10, 2017 Chapter 7, A Separate Peace Summary  Ã‚  Ã‚   In chapter 7 of the novel, A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, Gene gets to know Brinker a little more, making him come out of his shell that he was in because of the absence of Phineas. He and Brinker like to joke around a lot, and one day, Gene feels like it was too serious. One day, they went down to the butt room, because they felt like a smoke, and while Brinker was fooling aroundRead MoreA Separate Peace Essay examples1290 Words   |  6 PagesBrittany Schafer September 21, 2012 Period 4 A Separate Peace Final Draft In the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles, it relates to a complicated friendship of two young boys Gene and Phineas. Gene is jealous of Phineas’ achievements and lets his anger destroy their relationship. The boys at Devon in the summer of 1942 have to deal with the fear World War II brings. Each time the boys feel safe and peaceful, reality sets in and reminds them of the warfare around them. The boy’s mentalRead MoreA Separate Peace, by John Knowles1079 Words   |  5 Pagesaggressive nature of the people often cause it to proceed without justification. In A Separate Peace, wars such as these are seen between the characters and within the characters of Gene and Phineas. These wars can be thought of as figments of imagination, founded on irrational assumptions, fears of the unknown, and nonexistent threats. Regardless of their origin, the enemy is always daunting. John Knowles’ A Separate Peace reveals Gene’s perceived war with Phineas and Phineas ’ internal conflict with WorldRead MoreA Separate Peace: Three Symbols716 Words   |  3 PagesA Separate Peace: Three Symbols The three dichotomous symbols in A Separate Peace by John Knowles reinforce the innocence and evil of the main characters, Finny and Gene. Beside the Devon School flow two rivers on opposite sides of the school, the Naguamsett and the Devon. The Devon provides entertainment and happiness for Gene and Finny as they jump from the tree into the river and hold initiations into the Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session. Finny, Gene, and their friends use theRead MoreA Separate Peace By John Knowles1078 Words   |  5 PagesStephen King once said, â€Å"Books and movies are like apples and oranges. They both are fruit, but taste completely different.† John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace which is also a movie by Peter Yates, both have the same theme and plot, however, there are minor adaptations that are made to the movie which fail to capture the nature of the characters. A Separate Peace is set at a boys’ boarding school in New Hampshire during World War II. It is the story of Gene Forrester, and his confused feelings of admirationRead MoreA Separate Peace By John Knowles1810 Words   |  8 PagesIn John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace, it begins with the protagonist, Gene Forrester coming back to his alma mater the Devon School in New Hampshire. Wandering through the campus, Gene makes his way to a tall tree by the river; the reason for his return. From here he takes the reader back to the year 1942 du ring World War II when he was in high school. During the summer session ofthat year, he becomes close friends with his daredevil roommate Finny who is able to convince Gene into making a dangerous