Friendship In John Knowles's A Separate Peace

The book, "A Separate Peace," by John Knowles can be interpreted more than one way. You can take it literally, or look into the symbolic meaning of the landmarks of the Devon school, including the two "fearful sites" Gene visited in the beginning. As stated in the book by Gene, everything in the time period revolved around the war. This includes the great symbolism used, so mainly the tree, the Devon River, and the Naguamsett River. The Devon and Naguamsett Rivers both run through the campus of Devon. They are exact opposites (pg. 40).

Throughout the novel Gene believes Finny is out to get him. In the beginning of the book he said “ If I was the head of the class then we would be even” (52). Here he thinks he is trying to get him because in this scene Finny is trying to make him be below him and not allow Gene to be better than him. Later in the book he also shows this when “ I let this drop curtly to bar him from telling me what to do about my work” (59). This scene he is arguing with his friend Finny about studying or going to watch Leper jump out of the tree. He is clearly accusing finny wrongly throughout this argument because Finny isn’t trying to get him but give him suggestions. He even offered him to stay back and study but Gene refused the offer only to go and watch Leper jump out of a tree. His frustration is about Finny attempting to make him do bad but it is obvious that this is not the case and more so to help him do better. Gene doesn’t show inner peace when he thinks Finny is out to get him but still doesn’t when Finny dies and doesn’t cry.

In the novel, “A Separate Peace,” by John Knowles, takes place in New England, during World War II. Gene, remembers his experiences at Devon school 15 years ago, when he was 16 years old, to the time when he was a student with his best friend Phineas (Finny). who he both had mixed feelings for of jealousy and admiration. Both Gene and Finny have advantages of their own mainly being, academics and athleticism. But as the story continues as each of their aspects starts to have negative effect and influences upon one another; Gene starts to get jealous and worried that he is not “better” than his best friend based on his best aspects. This causes problems in their friendship, as their trust, and relationship as a whole slowly falls apart. One theme this story suggest is how loyalty and jealousy in close relationships may blind you from the truth

In the novel, “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles, the seasons develop actions and characters in the story. The story takes place at an all-boys boarding school in New Hampshire during World War II based off of the author’s previous experiences at a boarding school. The two main characters, Finny and Gene, experience character development alongside different seasons. In written works, seasons are commonly used to symbolically represent a change in the character’s personalities. The nature or setting of the story is used to specifically evolve Finny and Gene in seasons such as the summer, autumn, and winter. Each season change also generates an entirely different mood.

"Envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide" (Emerson 370). John Knowles wrote the novel A Separate Peace taking place in New Hampshire around the time of World War 11. Knowles follows two male best friends that go to the school Devon. Gene is one of the best friends who is unsure about himself and has low self-esteem. He is a conformist toward his best friend Finny, which leads to some complicated situations.

Jealousy is a powerful and extreme emotion that causes fear and insecurity. Wanting what someone else has often evokes jealousy. For example, Gene in “A Separate Peace” feels jealous of Finny’s popularity and athleticism. This jealousy drives Gene to act in ways he would not have otherwise. In order to create Gene’s jealousy in “A Separate Peace”, John Knowles depicts Finny as charismatic and trusting through the employment of indirect characterization which adds suspense and conflict.

“It is better to have an enemy who honestly says they hate you, than a friend who is petting you down secretly”-Unknown. While this is true, is a person who puts you down secretly even considered a friend? Not according to Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus’s definition of friend, “a supporter or an ally” and Dictionary.com’s definition of friendship, “a state of mutual trust and support between allies”. In A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, Gene, the narrator puts his “friend” Finny down so is their relationship really classified as friendship? No, Gene and Finny are not friends because Gene purposely made Finny fall out of the tree, their relationship is considered rivalry, and Gene doesn’t support Finny.

Though it may sound like a myth, the green-eyed monster is as real as the person sitting next to you. Its prevalence is unsettling and so is its ability to make you feel pain unlike you’ve ever felt before. It is envy, raw and unavoidable; just like its counterpart, jealousy. These feelings are an everyday occurrence that everyone must cope with. It is the yearning for what someone else has that can shake us all to the core. Along with envy and jealousy come many physical, mental and emotional side effects. Relationships can become extremely strained and even fall apart under the sheer power of these emotions. How we understand ourselves can also become a very tainted vision. The main characters from John Knowles’ A Separate Peace, Gene and Finny, are a great example of how envy and jealousy can affect our lives. Gene, Finny and everyday people show how envy and jealousy can negatively impact our relationships and distort our understanding of ourselves.

The novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles is an edge of the seat read and an American Classic. It takes place during World War II, which in itself can be enticing. Gene and Phineas create this emotional bond that cannot be broken but only strengthened. This novel teaches the world of what a reality check can truly be when in fact you don’t know what is truly around the next corner. Knowles creates the ultimate spine tingling book that will keep you in between the covers.

The setting of the novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, is set in New England at a all boys school during World War II. The year is 1942 at Devon School. At this time America is rationing supplies and has just started a draft for the war. People are scared and kids have to grow up way to fast. The novel conveys the life of Gene a teenage boy attending Devon.

When Finny jokingly says he was extremely envious of Gene one day, Gene bursts and unknowingly concludes that “all of [Finny’s] assertions of friendship were fake and [he] was only jealous of my success” (Knowles 34). Finny’s meaningless comment sparks Gene’s anger, invoking him to accuse Finny of befriending him only to bring him down. Gene’s sudden lash informs Finny of Gene’s distrust and jealousy of him. Similarly, Gene starts to feel a sense of betrayal from Finny, beginning to believe that Finny’s friendship is unreal. The argument, which is centered on Gene’s jealousy, slowly rips the boys away from one another, because of lack of trust in each other. Therefore, in this case, Gene’s envy tardily tore apart his relationship with Finny.

Gene refuses to recognize his own feelings of insecurity and jealousy as his real enemy. This subconscious denial leads to the downfall of his friendship with Finny. Gene

Gene, returns to the Devon School in New Hampshire, where he was a student with his friend Phineas 15 years ago, just as World War II began. The book goes back 15 years, to Gene's days with Phineas. On their first chance to jump off a huge tree into the river, Phineas, being the daredevil, goes first and Gene is the only one who follows. Gene is normally a conservative, conformist type person, but around Phineas, he consents to break the rules more often.

“For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice” (Berean Study Bible, James 3.16). Friendship increases confidence, reduces stress, and boosts energy. Friendships can occur in various places and situations. Sometimes a stranger turns into a friend in a matter of minutes. Other times it takes months or even years to really open up and trust one another. Gene and Finny have been close friends for a while, meeting at the Devon School. Finny is known for his athleticism and quick wit, while Gene is known for his academic achievements and his tendency to brood. These differences create a jealous conscience within Gene. As the story progresses, the jealousy builds and causes Gene to injure his best friend. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles discusses how the theme of jealousy and guilt impact the relationship between Gene and Finny, through symbolism, direct characterization, and repetition.

Gene is extremely blatant when he gives reasoning behind his actions. This plays a factor in the plot, because Gene and Finny’s relationship is jeopardized numerous times by Gene’s actions. At an early point in the novel, Gene realizes that although it is the right thing to do, telling Finny the truth will hurt him even more; “It struck me then that I was injuring him again. It occurred to me that this could be an even deeper injury than what I had done before. I would