John Knowles exquisitely crafted a book called A Separate Peace takes place during World War 2 at Devon high school in New Hampshire. Devon high school is presented as an almost Utopia filled with trees, animals, and the peaceful lazy rivers. Also where two boys, Gene and Finny with their own personal problems. Gene is typical the teen that goes through self-consciousness, uncertainty, jealousy, and an identity crisis. Finny is described as a super-human, he is charismatic, pure of heart, and naturally skilled teen. Both of them are friends and have a rivalry growing in between them that leads to the disarrangement of identity. Through the use of Gene’s jealousy, Knowles illustrates the identity as a reflection of the thoughts and actions of others
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In the book it states "Listen you maimed son-of-a-bitch… I hit him hard across the face. I didn't know why for an instant; it was almost as though I were maimed. Then the realization that there was someone who was flashed over me” (6.46-7). At this moment Gene steps out of character and does what Finny would do in this situation which is being defensive and after that he realizes what had just happened. It is also said “I spent as much time as I could alone in our room, trying to empty my mind of every thought, to forget where I was, even who I was. I decided to put on his clothes. This gave me such intense relief. I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again” (5.4-5). This makes Gene feel as if he has taken Finny’s identity for a short period of time while also serving as a way to get rid of his guilt. Gene repeatedly tries to be like Finny while losing his own
In the book it states "Listen you maimed son-of-a-bitch… I hit him hard across the face. I didn't know why for an instant; it was almost as though I were maimed. Then the realization that there was someone who was flashed over me” (6.46-7). At this moment Gene steps out of character and does what Finny would do in this situation which is being defensive and after that he realizes what had just happened. It is also said “I spent as much time as I could alone in our room, trying to empty my mind of every thought, to forget where I was, even who I was. I decided to put on his clothes. This gave me such intense relief. I would never stumble through the confusions of my own character again” (5.4-5). This makes Gene feel as if he has taken Finny’s identity for a short period of time while also serving as a way to get rid of his guilt. Gene repeatedly tries to be like Finny while losing his own