Duty Vs Desire Quotes

“And you told me about Leper, that he’s gone crazy. That’s the word, we might as well admit it. Leper’s gone crazy. When I heard that about Leper, then I knew that the war was real, this war and all wars. If a war can drive somebody crazy, then it’s real alright” (Knowles 163). This excerpt from John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is the realization from a young student about his classmate, Elwin “Leper” Lepellier. Leper’s sobriquet demonstrates he is unusual and an outcast amongst his class at The Devon School. Leper, a timid, naive, and innocent 17 year old, shocks his peers when he is the first to enlist in the war. He soon returns after escaping from training, mentally broken and an altered character. Thus, Leper suffers from post-traumatic

As the war got closer, Gene and Finny advanced through their school year with a lot of stress and complex decisions. One tough decision Gene had to make was to enlist or wait to be drafted. Gene’s excuse for not enlisting was Finny. Gene felt an obligation towards Finny because he caused the accident. The accident made Gene feel as if he had became a part of Phineas. “I lost

When Gene visits Leper at his home in Vermont, he discovers Leper’s mental instability and fears the same will happen to him in the future when he enlists in the army. Gene states, “I didn’t care what I said to him now; it was myself I was worried about. For if Leper was psycho it was the army which had done it to him, and I and all of us were on the brink of the army” (Knowles 135). Gene is now coming to the realization that war can have negative effects on those involved and is beginning to fear the war. Previously, just as the other boys, he has been shielded from the ugly truths of war by attending Devon, alien to the idea of the violence that it contains. Now, he has achieved a new understanding and has now created an informed opinion on war. This serves as a turning point for Gene because he is losing his innocence and discovering more about the war beyond the walls of

“Reuven, he has already talked to Danny about it, he has talked to Danny through you” (pg 101)

Another boy in the story who was matured by the war was Leper; "Across the hall...where Leper Lepellier had dreamed his way through July and August amid sunshine and dust motes and windows through which the ivy had reached tentatively into the room,... (Knowles 74)" When he sees the movies about the ski troops, he thinks that it looks fun and he surprises everyone by enlisting. Leper does not really know what he is getting himself into when he enlists. He thinks that it looks like a fun ski trip; he can serve his country and ski around the world at the same time; "So

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.

Just as Finny concocts a false portrayal of the war and obscures Genes perception of their conflict, the army displays an inaccurate impression of war which as a result traumatizes Leper Leppelier. It is after the Christmas holidays that the United States ski troops show an enlistment video to the boys at the Devon school. For Leper,

“Things are always how they seem, Reuven? Since when?” This quote represents the constant reoccurring concept that appears in The Chosen. It’s brought up in many ways where the reader or Reuven’s perception is altered because they don’t know the entire story. Reuven works well as a narrator because we share his position as an outsider looking in on the unfamiliar Hasidim ways. Reuven’s view of Danny Saunders, and his perceptions about Freudian psychology are examples of views that were changed throughout the story.

Danny views Orthodox Jews as unholy Jews. “I told my team we’re going to kill you apikorsim this afternoon.” (Danny Saunders 33). Danny hits a ball that hits Reuven in the eye, shattering his glasses and lodging a shard of glass in his pupil. Danny visits Reuven in the hospital to apologise for almost blinding him. Danny wants to strike a friendship with Reuven, but Reuven initially rejects him. However, over the next few days Reuven changes his views on Danny and becomes friends with him. “You did a foolish thing Reuven…You remember what the Talmud says. If a person comes to apologize for having hurt you, you must listen and forgive him”.(David Malter 94). Thus, a friendship is born out of animosity and continues to blossom.

The Saunders share dinner each night, shrouded in Reb’s silence, whereas the Malter clan discusses the day and the Zionist movement. Towards the end of the novel, Danny reveals to Reuven, “you can listen to silence and learn from it” (267). Reuven cannot comprehend the meaning behind Danny’s statement because of the parenting technique David Malter utilizes; even with just father and son, conversation is constant. Reuven remains unsure of the point Reb Saunders tries to prove until the man orders an end to the boys’ friendship. Only then does he understand, as the boys communicate through looks instead of words. Not only do the parenting styles of each family differ, but the dynamics diverge. It is clear that Reb Saunders will not tolerate anything than what he declares, while David and Reuven act as an equal pair in their family dynamic. Both boys learn from the other’s father. David gives Danny knowledge through reading and books, proving that life involves more than just religion; Reb helps Reuven understand how to overcome differences and understand different points of view. Reb Saunders and David Malter interact with their sons in different ways, yet teach the boys invaluable

War is dangerous, unpredictable, and destructive. World history has been witness. It is responsible for disease, poverty, famine, epidemics, separation of families, and violence. In addition, war inevitably results in serious, negative effects on the environment and the economy. The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss is a symbolic representation of the Cold War which is not a suitable topic to expose children to n a children 's book.

After Reuven initially wakes up, Danny visits him in the hospital to apologize. “‘I am sorry,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ll just bet you are,’ I told him. He…turned and walked slowly away.” After Reuven tells his father of the events, his father tells him that he should have listened. This response on David’s part initially caused Reuven to listen to Danny when he returned the second time.

Reb confides in Reuven in hopes that Reuven will share his wisdom with Danny. Reuven doesn’t understand how Reb is using him until the end of the book. Reb attempts to shine light on Reuven when he says, ‘It is never pleasant to be a buffer Reuven’ (Potok 170). Reb continues to speak to Reuven, “You have become a

War is not one of the most pleasant images this world has seen. Usually it is regarded as one of the most

War is portrayed as something emotional that every living being goes through in their lifetime. Most of the people experience.