In John Knowles’ book, A Separate Peace, the novel’s foundations is shaped off the idea of innocence. Gene evolves throughout the book with the aid of Finny and Leper. They help show the different types of innocence in the world. Gene’s evolution revolves around Finny, the idea of Finny, and the act of striving to be like him slowly takes away Genes innocence; Leper symbolizes how fast innocence can go. The envy drives the innocence to its closing breath. Gene thought to himself, “I felt a sudden stab of disappointment. That was because I just wanted to see some more excitement; that must have been it” (28). Gene can always try to manipulate his perception, even though Gene’s rivalry will always show through his wall of virtue. Finny's perfection will nevertheless
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Leper wrote, “I have escaped and need help. I am at Christmas location. You understand. No need to risk address here. My safety depends on you coming at once” (137). Leper is the symbol or the effects from the war, and in another sense he is also the innocence lost in the war. He proves it does not take long to lose yourself in the war, or even the idea of fighting in battle. Gene yells at Leper, “‘Do you think I want to hear every gory detail! Shut up! I don’t care! I don’t care what happened to you, Leper’” (151). Gene lost his hope that day, and even though he had lost a lot, this part of him is the greatest part. He does not have hope he did not hurt Finny on purpose, he does not have hope the war will turn out fine, he does not have hope he has become a better man, and he has lost hope of becoming his own man. Gene explains, “I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case” (194). This is Gene’s end, the final growth Gene will endure in this novel. Gene has not found himself, he has found Finny. Gene has reached the last step of his identity, he has become a part of
Leper wrote, “I have escaped and need help. I am at Christmas location. You understand. No need to risk address here. My safety depends on you coming at once” (137). Leper is the symbol or the effects from the war, and in another sense he is also the innocence lost in the war. He proves it does not take long to lose yourself in the war, or even the idea of fighting in battle. Gene yells at Leper, “‘Do you think I want to hear every gory detail! Shut up! I don’t care! I don’t care what happened to you, Leper’” (151). Gene lost his hope that day, and even though he had lost a lot, this part of him is the greatest part. He does not have hope he did not hurt Finny on purpose, he does not have hope the war will turn out fine, he does not have hope he has become a better man, and he has lost hope of becoming his own man. Gene explains, “I could not escape a feeling that this was my own funeral, and you do not cry in that case” (194). This is Gene’s end, the final growth Gene will endure in this novel. Gene has not found himself, he has found Finny. Gene has reached the last step of his identity, he has become a part of