Summary Of The Novel 'A Separate Peace' By John Knowles

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A friendship, defined by a positive emotional connection between two individuals, can only be fulfilled if a mutual commitment by both parties is made. The novel, A Separate Peace, by John Knowles, explores the conflict between two young men in a coming of age story. The main characters, Gene and Phineas, also known as Finny, are best friends at Devon Academy. The novel follows them on their struggle to find out who they are and what motivates them in a time of uncertainty and fear. Gene and Finny appear to be inseparable, but as time goes on, they are torn apart by their conflicting emotions and competitiveness with one another. As each boy has their own strengths and attributes, the lines of friendship are blurred when their seemingly perfect …show more content…
However, it is evident that no matter how much Gene attempts to one up Finny, he feels he cannot surpass him. Gene’s growing resentment takes hold when he realizes that perhaps nothing he does competes with Finny’s charisma or kindness and he no longer believes what Finny tells him. For example, Finny states, “you are my best pal” (Knowles 41). Undoubtedly, Gene does not trust Finny and the need to assimilate to Finny’s life consumes Gene and taps into his insecurities, which prevents him from returning the friendship Finny has bestowed upon him. The rivalry that Gene believes exists culminates in the realization that he may never be able to defeat Finny. An illustration of this frustration occurs when Gene states, "I began to know that each morning reasserted the problems of the night before, that sleep suspended all but changed nothing, that you couldn't make yourself over between dawn and dusk" (105). It is evident that resentment continues to grow within Gene and their relationship is most certainly tested. Hostile thoughts set in motion a series of events that question whether a friendship ever existed. This friendship cannot thrive because the need to be better than Finny controls every fiber of Gene’s
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