John Knowles A Separate Peace Essay Example

John Knowles A Separate Peace Essay John Knowles’ book, A Separate Peace is a very powerful story, filled with hate, resentment, friendships and war. Knowles tells a story of an all boys’ boarding school during World War 2, in New England. The main characters, Gene and Finny are best friends, but their friendship is altered when Gene pushes Finny out of a tree. This changes things between the boys at the school and so does the war. The boys then truly figure out just who they are.Knowles shows how bad choices can affect the outcome of a person. Gene pushing Finny out of the tree, lead to Gene to feeling like he had to live for Finny because he felt he had ruined his life. â€Å"But when I looked in the mirror it was no remote aristocrat I had become, no character out of daydreams. I was Phineas, Phineas to the life.† (62). When Gene put on Finny’s clothes he felt like he had to be Finny because it was his purpose of being alive. We will write a custom essay sample on John Knowles A Separate Peace specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on John Knowles A Separate Peace specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on John Knowles A Separate Peace specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer â€Å"And I thought we were competitors!It was so ludicrous I wanted to cry.† (66). Gene didn’t realize that Finny didn’t care whether he won or not.He didn’t want to be the best.He was never competing for a title.The whole time Gene was trying to compare himself to Finny he thought they were rivals.Gene finally realized this and felt extremely disappointed about what he had done. Gene visiting Leper made him think twice about enlisting in the War. Gene and the other boys thought that the war would be easy. â€Å" I didn’t want to hear anymore of it. I had already heard to much.† (151). Gene felt scared after Leper told him about him going awol, and his hallucinations. Gene didn’t want to believe that sort of thing could happen. â€Å" I had many new experiences and I was growing up,† (156) Now, that Gene has dealt with all these different experiences he feel he is growing up because of it, the boys aren’t protected from the outside world anymore so they must grow up, and experience life for themselves. When Finny