A Separate Peace Finny Character Analysis

Words: 473
Pages: 2

Even after Finny’s tragic accident, he continued to find ways to stay positive through all the trials he was put through. Finny has a very well rounded personality in A Separate Peace, By John Knowles. This is a story set at a boys boarding school in New Hampshire during World War Two. The novel mainly focuses on four different teenage boys: Gene, Finny, Leper and Brinker. They all go through different struggles throughout the novel. Some would say that the biggest attribute to Finny is his athletic abilities. While this is a major part of him, there is much more to his character. Finny was also very adventurous, forgiving, and trusting with his friends and everybody else around him.
In the novel, Finny was a very adventurous person. An example of this is when he decided to “[spring] out, [fall] through the the tops of some lower branches, and [smash] into the water” (16). He then urges others to jump saying: “who’s next” (16). Another example of is when he decided to go with Gene to the beach. Finny mentions that “Swimming in pools is screwy anyways” (45). He then decides to go to the beach with Gene.
…show more content…
A direct example of this occurred when Mr. Patch-Withers , who was the substitute headmaster for the summer, offered the traditional term tea to the upper class. At the gathering, Finny used the school tie as a belt. (He always grabbed whatever tie he saw as a belt).The headmaster was appalled, Finny said “it all ties back to the war” (27) Not only does this show his carelessness, it shows how he can get away with anything. Another example is when he wants to go to the beach. He says “ The only real swimming is in the ocean” (45). Even though they had classes, Homework,etc. He decided it would be a good idea to just go to the beach. This shows that he just does not