Adolescence In John Knowles A Separate Peace

Adolescence is a trying period for everyone. Physical and emotional changes are common as one matures. John Knowles portrays the hardships of these years along with the burden of war in his novel A Separate Peace. The reader sees Gene Forrester’s transition from innocent, adoring child to suspicious, jealous teen, and finally concluding at guilty, yet wise adult. Gene’s fight to keep his spirits high throughout these changes and the adversity of a world wracked by war is timeless as an adolescent’s inner turmoils always seem to be the most important problem. Prior to this transformation, Gene is blissfully unaware of what he is capable of and the pain which he has the ability to inflict onto others. His innocence is apparent in his playful demeanor,
I threw my hip against his,catching him by surprise, and he was instantly down, definitely pleased. This was why he liked me so much. When I jumped on top of him, …show more content…
Gene displays jealousy of Phineas during his change;
Was he trying to impress me or something? Not tell anybody? When he broke a school record without a day of practice? I knew he was serious about it so I didn’t tell anybody. Perhaps for that reason his accomplishment took root in my mind and grew rapidly in the darkness where I was forced to hide it (86) Gene wants to be the best at everything he does. While he does excel in his classes, he is a mediocre athlete. Gene’s jealousy of Finny is clear in his reverence of Phineas’s athletic abilities; this is part of the reason that he causes Finny’s career-ending injuries. Gene becomes very suspicious of his long-time friend, “Yes he had saved my life, but he had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn’t have been on that damn limb except for him” (25). Gene becomes suspicious of everything Finny does. In a way, Gene is projecting his emotions onto Phineas as Phineas is neither jealous, nor trying to sabotage Gene. His jealousy is the driving force for what he did to