Character Analysis: A Separate Peace By John Knowles

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Gene's got a bright future in academics receiving good grades and his best friend Phinny has the talent every athlete want. The friendship doesn't only bring smiles and laughs,but reveals a dark side, only building suspense throughout the book. Gene visits his past not to confront his actions, but to reflect on his actions. In " A Separate Peace " written by John Knowles writes about Gene a character, overwhelmed by jealousy committing despicable acts he can't control. Genes doesn't feel remorse for throwing Gene of the tree and causing his death, but only reveals his dark side he has no a shame of.

Gene's jealousy grows in the beginning of the book because Finny demonstrates his athletic abilities only to him. Gene questions why won't …show more content…
"Holding firmly to the trunk, I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb... and then he tumbled sideways...broke the branches below and hit the bank"(pg60).

Gene returns to his dorm from the infirmary only to bizarrely start putting on Phinny's clothes.
"I never forgot, and that evening I put on his cordovan shoes, his pants, and I looked for and finally found his pink shirt , neatly laundered in a drawer ... I felt like some nobleman ... I even had his humorous expression in my face, his sharp , optimistic awareness. I had no idea why this gave me such a intense relief" (pg62).

Gene receives Lepers coded message and visits his hometown in Vermont, however, when confronted with the truth Gene reacts just as Leper expected. "You always were a lord of the manner,weren't you? A swell guy,except when the chips were down. You always were a savage underneath. I always new that only I never admitted it.... like that time you knocked Finny of the tree. I sprang out of the chair. You stupid crazy bastard.... Like that one time you crippled him for life..... I shoved my foot against the rung of his chair and kicked. Leper went over in his chair and collapsed against the floor
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