Identity In John Knowles A Separate Peace

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"The day you stop blaming others is the day you begin to discover who you truly are." (photographer Jeremy Binns). Discovery of an identity is a tough coming in a young person's life, and becomes even more difficult when there is an urge to become someone else. The masterpiece novel A Separate Peace written by author John Knowles is a beautiful story of two boys who have hidden truths about their true feelings of each other. Gene, The main character finds himself in utter envy of his best friend Finny and compels his inner self to become a part of Finny, or even, to become him. Gene is known as a very straight forward academic student contrasting against Finny's fun-loving athletic personality.The boys grow in to a very close relationship;

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