Analysis of the impact of love and jealousy
A Separate Peace is filled with both love and jealousy as seen through the friendship, between two people known as Gene and Finny. Jealousy can not only destroy one’s self, but also others around them. If one is not careful their jealousy can turn into bitterness and hatred, eating them alive and causing them to become a person that was never thought possible. Love can also make a person blind to other people's actions, making them very gullible to the situation. In the beginning Gene reflects on his time at Devon, a place he describes as a time of regret, but also learning. He reminisces about the times he had there, stating “Nothing endures, not a tree, not love, not even a death by violence” …show more content…
He not only lets competition and jealousy destroy him on the inside, but eventually causes it to destroy his friendship. Since the beginning of the book Gene has always had jealousy towards Finny. Gene’s jealousy seemed to stem from Finny exceeding in sports, when he didn’t have to try, while Gene was the opposite. Gene had to work vigorously for his grades in order to be the best, and sports were never his forte. It drove Gene insane that Finny dominated in sports with little to no effort. His jealousy is apparent when he states “I’d kill myself out of jealous envy” (Knowles, 24). Though Gene’s competition only exists in his head, he truly believes that Finny is competing against him, and is out to get him. The only competition or jealousy is the one created by Gene, and this is so deep that it is eventually going to destroy him as a person. Gene can never truly let go of the guilt due to Finny’s unwillingness to listen, and truly comprehend what he is trying to convey.This pattern continually puts Gene in a place of hatred toward Finny. Gene’s jealousy and competition eventually tore him down and caused him to partake in actions he would later regret. Toward the end of the book the reader can see this shine through when Gene talks about how his war ended before he ever put on the uniform, as Gene’s war was one of
A Separate Peace is filled with both love and jealousy as seen through the friendship, between two people known as Gene and Finny. Jealousy can not only destroy one’s self, but also others around them. If one is not careful their jealousy can turn into bitterness and hatred, eating them alive and causing them to become a person that was never thought possible. Love can also make a person blind to other people's actions, making them very gullible to the situation. In the beginning Gene reflects on his time at Devon, a place he describes as a time of regret, but also learning. He reminisces about the times he had there, stating “Nothing endures, not a tree, not love, not even a death by violence” …show more content…
He not only lets competition and jealousy destroy him on the inside, but eventually causes it to destroy his friendship. Since the beginning of the book Gene has always had jealousy towards Finny. Gene’s jealousy seemed to stem from Finny exceeding in sports, when he didn’t have to try, while Gene was the opposite. Gene had to work vigorously for his grades in order to be the best, and sports were never his forte. It drove Gene insane that Finny dominated in sports with little to no effort. His jealousy is apparent when he states “I’d kill myself out of jealous envy” (Knowles, 24). Though Gene’s competition only exists in his head, he truly believes that Finny is competing against him, and is out to get him. The only competition or jealousy is the one created by Gene, and this is so deep that it is eventually going to destroy him as a person. Gene can never truly let go of the guilt due to Finny’s unwillingness to listen, and truly comprehend what he is trying to convey.This pattern continually puts Gene in a place of hatred toward Finny. Gene’s jealousy and competition eventually tore him down and caused him to partake in actions he would later regret. Toward the end of the book the reader can see this shine through when Gene talks about how his war ended before he ever put on the uniform, as Gene’s war was one of