In A Separate Peace John Knowles makes a compelling story about two teenagers, Gene and Phineas, going through life during the time of war. These teenagers were best of friends at their high school, Devon. Being friends, they both brought out the worst and the best in the other, yet they both sacrificed something more important for humanity, during a time where friendships and humanity were betrayed most by an evil called war. Gene, being a competitive person, acquired thinking process in which his friendship with Phineas was fueled by competition. However, this instinctive grasp for power made Gene learn something that was very difficult in a time like this. Phineas not believing in an evil such as war needed someone that would understand
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This rogue more impetuous self made its presents in Gene’s heart when Phineas said, “Let’s go, you and me” (P. 59). While they both were standing on the limb anxiously anticipating the jump. This somehow made Gene go into a predatory mode that many people in the war had to do endure to make it out alive. Gene fanaticized Phineas as a competitor in his life. The ultimate prize of knocking a competitor of best in class out of the race was too much for Gene to overcome. These constraining thoughts took over the best of Gene which forced him to shake the branch and force Phineas to fall to the bank of the river. Gene feeling remorse after his triumph of annihilation of his competitor turned into fear and hopelessness. Gene just deliberately made Phineas his only true friend fall. Gene rushed to see Phineas and the condition that he was in, hoping that Phineas might forgive Gene, but like most he instinctively was trying to hand over the pain and blame to the very person that endured the pain, Phineas, by saying “how did you fall, how could you fall off like that?” (P. 65) Then, after many moments, Gene realized what really was the problem, it was never Phineas or his balance, it was Gene's instinctive trait, “I thought we were competitors” to survive and win the battle, ultimately for life (P. 66). Phineas broke his leg from this fall, but even though it did not help him in any
This rogue more impetuous self made its presents in Gene’s heart when Phineas said, “Let’s go, you and me” (P. 59). While they both were standing on the limb anxiously anticipating the jump. This somehow made Gene go into a predatory mode that many people in the war had to do endure to make it out alive. Gene fanaticized Phineas as a competitor in his life. The ultimate prize of knocking a competitor of best in class out of the race was too much for Gene to overcome. These constraining thoughts took over the best of Gene which forced him to shake the branch and force Phineas to fall to the bank of the river. Gene feeling remorse after his triumph of annihilation of his competitor turned into fear and hopelessness. Gene just deliberately made Phineas his only true friend fall. Gene rushed to see Phineas and the condition that he was in, hoping that Phineas might forgive Gene, but like most he instinctively was trying to hand over the pain and blame to the very person that endured the pain, Phineas, by saying “how did you fall, how could you fall off like that?” (P. 65) Then, after many moments, Gene realized what really was the problem, it was never Phineas or his balance, it was Gene's instinctive trait, “I thought we were competitors” to survive and win the battle, ultimately for life (P. 66). Phineas broke his leg from this fall, but even though it did not help him in any