The homoerotic tension in A Separate Peace that exists between Gene and Finny creates the central problem in the novel. Gene is unable to come to terms with how he feels about Finny and this leads to an extremely unhealthy relationship that leads to disastrous consequences for Finny. Gene idolizes Finny throughout the novel, because of the tension that exists between them, and this leads to Finny, in Gene’s mind, as becoming an unobtainable, perfect person. Gene, unable to deal with the fact that Finny could be too good for him, reacts very negatively to this idea. Gene glorifies Finny into a perfect person which Gene thinks he can never be good enough for, this leads to an unhealthy obsession of Finny’s personality that evolves into a dangerous
