A Separate Peace by John Knowles, accommodates multiple themes during the story. The novel explores difficulties with understanding oneself during adolescence. Therefore, the main theme of the novel is identity. Throughout the novel, Gene struggles to define himself outside of Finny. He wants to establish his own identity but Finny makes Gene feel conflicted as to who he truly is. “ To keep silent about this amazing happening deepened this shock for me. It made Finny seem too unusual for - not friendship but to unusual for rivalry. And there were few relationships among us at Devon not based on rivalry,” ( Knowles 800) This quote has to do with Genes desire to become Finny. Since he cannot be in the same league as Finny, he doesn't know any
