Albert Einstein once said, "The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing." Evil is the danger of not doing something to fix problems sooner. All humans live with an evil that resides in their hearts, but it is the moment that these individuals do not realize the presence of this evil that they become controlled by its influence and consequences of its actions. Einstein points out that people are evil when they do not do something to fix what is wrong. John Knowles also portrays this concept in his novel A Separate Peace, through Gene's relationship with Finny. He uses Gene's internal conflict to send a message of the toll internal evil has on our lives. Gene's struggle
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Individuals change their minds all the time, but altering their identification of good and hate makes them victim to unconscious actions. When Finny had practically saved Gene's life from falling off the tree, Gene's sudden gratitude turns into hatred, for he chooses to blame Finny for being up there: “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn't have been up on that damn limb except for him ... I didn't need to feel any tremendous rush of gratitude toward Phineas" (Knowles 33). Gene is quick to alter his gratitude for Finny into hatred and resentment because he is being controlled by the overwhelming power which is the evil within his heart. He struggles to differentiate his love and hate for Finny, since he cannot control the darker inner turmoil that drives his actions. Knowles reveals to readers that any switch from hate to love uncovers the true drive of people's actions, that is the evil in their heart. Moreover, When Finny proves his friendship …show more content…
Gene's decision to jounce the tree limb causing Finny to fall is a consequence of the evil that resides in everyone's heart. Consequently, he became guilty, but readers learn that he will never be able to rid himself of his guilt because the consequences of evil are irreversible. Evil is a overpowering feeling that can end up controlling anyone's life. As individuals continue to let themselves be driven by the overwhelming power of evil, they will continue to make irrational decisions until they discover and fix their evil. Evil resides within everyone, and no one will ever truly come to face with their evil until it finally controls their
Individuals change their minds all the time, but altering their identification of good and hate makes them victim to unconscious actions. When Finny had practically saved Gene's life from falling off the tree, Gene's sudden gratitude turns into hatred, for he chooses to blame Finny for being up there: “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn't have been up on that damn limb except for him ... I didn't need to feel any tremendous rush of gratitude toward Phineas" (Knowles 33). Gene is quick to alter his gratitude for Finny into hatred and resentment because he is being controlled by the overwhelming power which is the evil within his heart. He struggles to differentiate his love and hate for Finny, since he cannot control the darker inner turmoil that drives his actions. Knowles reveals to readers that any switch from hate to love uncovers the true drive of people's actions, that is the evil in their heart. Moreover, When Finny proves his friendship …show more content…
Gene's decision to jounce the tree limb causing Finny to fall is a consequence of the evil that resides in everyone's heart. Consequently, he became guilty, but readers learn that he will never be able to rid himself of his guilt because the consequences of evil are irreversible. Evil is a overpowering feeling that can end up controlling anyone's life. As individuals continue to let themselves be driven by the overwhelming power of evil, they will continue to make irrational decisions until they discover and fix their evil. Evil resides within everyone, and no one will ever truly come to face with their evil until it finally controls their