A Separate Peace Coming Of Age Analysis

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"It seemed clear that wars were not made by generations and their Special stupidities, but that wars were made instead by something ignorant in the human heart" In A Separate Peace by John Knowles the author uses coincidence and guilt to illustrate coming of age and how people learn to accept themselves as individuals. “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn't help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little.” Gene thought Finny was very athletic and Gene knew he would never reach Finny’s athletic ability. Gene wanted to get even with him so Gene strived to be top of the class. “Was he trying to impress me or something? Not tell anybody? When he had broken a school record without a day of practice? I knew he was serious about it, so I didn't tell anybody. Perhaps for that reason his accomplishment took root in my mind and grew rapidly in the darkness where I was forced to hide it” When this happened Gene Jealousy reached its highest point. Gene Jealousy got in the way of their friendship. Finny feels that the tree is very important to their friendship. Gene knows the tree is …show more content…
Then Leper screams at Gene accusing him of pushing Finny out of the tree. Gene then teases Leper and calls him psycho and insane. Gene does this because he knows he is guilty. Brinker takes Gene and Finny to force the truth out what happened at the tree. Leper showed up and he said what happened and Finny refused to believe it so Finny ran to the stairs he then fell. Finny ends up in the Infirmary. Finny asks Gene if it was all true what happened at the tree. “Finny, I tried to tell you before, I tried to tell you when I came to Boston that time” Finny hopes to find the good in Gene and he forgives him for causing the