Jealousy is selfishness and ignorance that can cause conflict and even the end of a friendship. The realistic fiction novel, A Separate Peace, is written by John Knowles. This novel revolves around the friendship of two young boys, Gene Forrester and Phineas who go to the Devon School in England during World War II. The boys enlisted in this school in hope of one day going into the army. Gene and Finny who were roommates had grown to be inseparable, but as they began to grow up, their differences and mindsets began to cause jealousy of intelligence, confidence, and athleticism in their friendship. As stated in A Separate Peace, “Wars are made by something ignorant in the human heart.” Gene, who is smart and barely athletic, was best friends
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In multiple occasions, the boys had gotten in trouble for breaking the school rules, yet never faced any consequences, thanks to Phineas. At a Devon School event, Finny showed up wearing his bright peach shirt and the school tie as a belt. The Headmaster had pulled Finny over to the side to discuss Finny’s inappropriate outfit. Finny managed to compliment and please his way out off getting in trouble. Gene though to himself, “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn’t help envying him, a little which was perfectly normal,” (Page 28). Gene grew very jealous of Finny’s ability to get out off trouble and had hoped that Finny would soon get a taste of his own medicine and get in trouble for his actions.
Phineas was very adventurous and liked to set goals for himself to accomplish. In fact, Phineas had broken several records, which one of them Gene was there to witness for. Phineas had beaten a previous Devon boy’s record for the fastest 100 m swimming race. Gene who was already jealous of Finny for several reasons thought to himself, “Was Finny trying to impress me or something?” (Page 44). As much as Gene tried to deny it, he could not get the though out of his head that maybe he was jealous? Gene and Finny were secretly rivaling with each other to be the smarter and the more athletic
In multiple occasions, the boys had gotten in trouble for breaking the school rules, yet never faced any consequences, thanks to Phineas. At a Devon School event, Finny showed up wearing his bright peach shirt and the school tie as a belt. The Headmaster had pulled Finny over to the side to discuss Finny’s inappropriate outfit. Finny managed to compliment and please his way out off getting in trouble. Gene though to himself, “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn’t help envying him, a little which was perfectly normal,” (Page 28). Gene grew very jealous of Finny’s ability to get out off trouble and had hoped that Finny would soon get a taste of his own medicine and get in trouble for his actions.
Phineas was very adventurous and liked to set goals for himself to accomplish. In fact, Phineas had broken several records, which one of them Gene was there to witness for. Phineas had beaten a previous Devon boy’s record for the fastest 100 m swimming race. Gene who was already jealous of Finny for several reasons thought to himself, “Was Finny trying to impress me or something?” (Page 44). As much as Gene tried to deny it, he could not get the though out of his head that maybe he was jealous? Gene and Finny were secretly rivaling with each other to be the smarter and the more athletic