Do you remember your first day of high school and how nervous you felt walking into your first class and seeing all the seniors walking around? The overcoming of that feeling is an example of coming-of-age. A Separate Peace written by John Knowles follows best friends Gene and Finny through a couple years of their adolescence. Their time in the Devon school included many situations that cover the topic of coming-of-age. In A Separate Peace, John Knowles portrays coming of age as a despairing time because of struggle.
Conflicts between Gene and Finny occur frequently in A Separate Peace. Phineas and Gene had a fierce, competitive friendship at the beginning of the book, but Gene quickly realizes he was jealous of Finny and regrets what he has done in spite of his envy. For example, when Gene was resentful of Finny, he thought to himself, “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn't help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little” (Knowles 25). Gene knew that he should not be jealous of Finny, so he tried to make himself believe it was okay to envy his best friend. Also, Richard L. Simpson …show more content…
First off, the envious relationship of Finny and Gene prove to be a hardship that they overcome, however, only after Gene realizes his vision was clouded with envy. The fact that they overcame the hurdle within their relationship proves namely Gene, matured considerably. Also, the way the boys at the Devon School experienced the academic preparations of going to war in their adolescence and school days can demonstrate another transition into adulthood. Finally, schoolmates of Finny dealt with his early death early in their life, which could have easily changed their perspective on life. Ultimately, coming-of-age is an important event in a person or character’s life that can shape their
Conflicts between Gene and Finny occur frequently in A Separate Peace. Phineas and Gene had a fierce, competitive friendship at the beginning of the book, but Gene quickly realizes he was jealous of Finny and regrets what he has done in spite of his envy. For example, when Gene was resentful of Finny, he thought to himself, “I was beginning to see that Phineas could get away with anything. I couldn't help envying him that a little, which was perfectly normal. There was no harm in envying even your best friend a little” (Knowles 25). Gene knew that he should not be jealous of Finny, so he tried to make himself believe it was okay to envy his best friend. Also, Richard L. Simpson …show more content…
First off, the envious relationship of Finny and Gene prove to be a hardship that they overcome, however, only after Gene realizes his vision was clouded with envy. The fact that they overcame the hurdle within their relationship proves namely Gene, matured considerably. Also, the way the boys at the Devon School experienced the academic preparations of going to war in their adolescence and school days can demonstrate another transition into adulthood. Finally, schoolmates of Finny dealt with his early death early in their life, which could have easily changed their perspective on life. Ultimately, coming-of-age is an important event in a person or character’s life that can shape their