A Separate Peace Analysis

John Knowles’s, A Separate Peace conveys an understanding of teenage conflicts during World War II. Numerous influential characters that amplify the struggles faced with during wartime are introduced throughout the naturalistic plot. Enclosed in this cluster of personas, each social stereotype is represented. Phineas, commonly referred to as Finny, portrays the cliche best friend: dependable, understanding, exhilarating, and drives others towards change. Gene Forrester, the protagonist, depicts the conventional image of a self-conscious adolescent male: permeating jealousy, uncertainty, and self-hatred. Stereotypical roles continue to gradually function to achieve an author’s purpose, as delineated in Knowles’s novel.

A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, is a seemingly simple yet heartbreaking story that gives the reader an inside look and analysis of the reality of human nature. Set permanently in the main character Gene’s point of view, the audience is first taken to the present of a reflective and now wise man (Gene) and then plunged into his past back in 1942 to relive the harsh lessons that youth brought him. Along with vivid imagery of tranquil days past, a view into the social construct of a boy’s private school, Devon, and the looming presence of World War 2 on the horizon, there is also a significant power struggle that the reader can observe almost instantly. Conquering the need to be supreme in the situations of the war, high school, social interactions, and even simple moments that

The boys at the Devon school, in the novel A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, are World War II influenced by making them mature and grow up more quickly than they would have had there not been a war. The war makes some boys stronger and more ready for whatever life would bring, while in others it disables them to the point that they cannot handle the demands of life. This novel shows a “coming-of age” story, especially with three boys. Gene starts out as a naïve and sensitive person but matures into a person more knowledgeable and capable of handling the challenges of life through his crisis experiences with of course, Phineas, Leper and, Brinker.

In A Separate Peace, the characters battle with their identity. Similar to the many other characters that struggle to be themselves, Gene tries to be other people. Given that Gene has a difficult time with his identity, he tries to be someone he is not: Gene tries to be Finny. Finny can be described as athletic, outgoing, and a risk taker, all things that Gene does not possess. Although Gene is far from Finny’s qualities he tries to duplicate them. Gene says “I decided to put on his clothes (Knowles 29).” When Gene puts on Finny’s clothes it starts his obsession of being Finny. The obsession Gene has continues, for example Finny told Gene that he wanted to one day become an Olympic athlete until he broke his leg. In response, Gene

In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, Knowles shows the inescapable consequences and effects World War II has on the boys attending Devon School. Some boys, including Gene Forrester and Brinker Hadley, become hostile and paranoid, while others, such as Phineas and Leper Lepellier, are mentally and physically affected. Knowles describes the microcosmic war at Devon between the students and man’s capability of hostility. This rivalry between the boys causes feelings of envy and hatred, which is naturally a part of human nature. However, too much envy and hatred within human nature inevitably causes man to become inhumane.

The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles is about learning and it reveals that people have to have the bad to see the good. This thematic statement connects to both the book and the world that we live in today. Many people want everything to be perfect and beautiful but the hard truth is that it will never completely be that way. Life isn’t going to be the way every stroke was placed on the perfect painting of life that everyone has in there head which was handcrafted from their wildest dreams. Their may be some slippery patches but good will follow close behind.

War is a destructive force whose nature is to destroy all things and change lives forever. It is a whirlpool that sucks everything in and is fueled by hatred and violence. Whether one is directly involved in the battlefield or waiting to see the outcome, war has the capacity to affect all people. It can harden one beyond their years and force them to grow, seeing conflicting sides of good and evil. A Separate Peace by John Knowles narrates the story of young boys growing up with World War II as the backdrop. The war impacts them dramatically and is constantly thought about as they are coming of the age since they will soon be enlisted. However, not only are they living during an era of war but are also struggling with the war inside of themselves as they search for the truth within. Knowles depicts the ability of war to affect teenage boys in Devon, an English preparatory school, and transform them from carefree boys to troubled young men in search of their own separate peace.

“I wanted to see Phineas, and only Phineas. With him there was no conflict except between athletes… This was the only conflict he had ever believed in.” (page 152) When Gene returns from Leper’s house, all he wants to do is see Finny. Gene says that Finny never believed in any conflict, which alludes to when Gene admitted to making him fall out of the tree, and Finny refusing to believe him. Gene wants to forget about what happened, as the event is fresh in his mind after coming back from Leper’s. He still subconsciously trusts Finny to not bring up the subject of what happened at the tree.

“I was on active duty all my time at school; I killed my enemy there” (Knowles 122). The novel “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles takes place at Devon High School, 1942. Knowles describes a friendship based off of ignorance, jealousy, and envy. Gene Forrester a sixteen year old who’s characterized as being intellectual, completive, and conformative. John Knowles depicts how Gene’s envy towards Finny affects their friendship and gain peace within himself.

John Knowles’ “A Separate Peace” takes place at a boarding school during World War II. Best friends Gene and Finny have been inseparable during their time at the Devon School. This is until reality hits Gene, and he slowly starts to realize that he is inferior to his best friend. Through the unbalanced friendship between two teenagers in “A Separate Peace,” Knowles illustrates that a loss of identity may be present in a relationship if there is an unequal amount of power.

In A Separate Peace, the author chooses to use conflicts to show the growth of a character. As a conflict happens there is some sort of growth which the character gains as a result. In fact, there are many conflicts throughout the story that shape the characters in unique ways including Genes jealousy of his best friend, Finny doing dangerous things, and Gene trying to live through Finny. Some conflicts result in good ways some result in bad and it changes the way the character is. The book is a good example of what it is like when a conflict happens in real life, by showing growth of a character after a conflict. The decisions made by the characters will either change them in positive or negative ways; that is an important message that the book tells quite well.

In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, a recurring theme is emotions. Set during World War Two, in a boarding school in America, teenage boys face the threat of going to war. Emotions are always high and often distorted by fear and uncertainty.

“A Separate Peace” is more than just a book about war and stressful times. It is about maturation; in the case of Gene and Phineas, this couldn’t be truer. The two best friends who attend Devon Boarding School have to deal with a stressful time in their lives, growing up and having responsibilities, and the looming idea that draft age is not far. Throughout the book, the two go through a chain of events leading to loss of innocence, building up anger and stress, and eventually: accepting the reality of the situation. Their lives, dreams and ideals won’t be same afterwords.

Reading the books The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and A Separate Peace connected us to the challenges of teenage-boys. Both of the main character’s in the book deal with problems that teenager’s in real-life deal with. The stories are told in first-person point-of-view and this shows us the feelings of the boys and how they are affected throughout the story. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time and A Separate Peace taught readers how to overcome inner challenges, trust others, and live with order and rules.

What: In this document/phone call, Lyndon B. Johnson orders some new “light weight” clothes from maker, Joe Hagger. Johnson gives Hagger specific information as to the size and color of his new clothing, while also using being very straightforward with his choice language, a trait Lyndon seems to be remembered by. Today, one may view this audio recording as a sort of comedy.