Peace of Westphalia

To reach a peaceful reconciliation, one must learn to embrace two distinct elements of their personality, the "Persona" and "Shadow." Likewise, in the bildungsroman A Separate Peace, author John Knowles depicts the common rivalry between young adolescents, and how they struggle to accept their identity and the relationship between their unconscious self. Gene, a Devon High student, becomes best friends with Finny and grows jealous of his ostensibly flawless friend, leading him to make a…

his campus fifteen years after he graduated, as it holds a deeper meaning to himself. Gene's guilt doesn't bear heavily on top of his shoulders anymore because he accepted his fault. Killing one's innocence allows a person to be more mature and at peace, rather than suffering from lingering emotions that happened over a decade ago. Innocence doesn't endure throughout life rather it is eradicated through one's action as a young adult. Finny and Gene's innocence are both tested through symbols in…

America is a place of freedom as some people love to say. The history of our country tells a different story. Throughout America 's history, people have been oppressed and treated terribly. These people have had freedoms stripped away and denied easy lives due to being slightly different than the “normal” person at the time. But the oppressed were able to fight through the tough times and band together for a common cause. The formation of social movements created a voice for the men, women and…

In John Knowles, fictional novel, A Separate Peace the author shifts the mood of the book to have readers make the realization that love is different for each character. The author wants the reader to know that each character has different inner struggles and thoughts. Finny is dealing with his disability and Gene is still feeling guilty about the accident. When Finny returns to Devon, he is happy to see Gene. However, Finny is not the same person because he is now disabled. He persuades Gene…

September 1, 1939 was the start of a very gruesome and saddening World War II. A Separate Peace by John Knowles is set during World War II, 1942 to be exact, following Gene Forrester as he struggles with identity, friendships, and jealousy while tagging along with his best bud, Phineas, who goes by Finny. During the war, Gene and Finny are studying at Devon School, a dormitory for young boys, during its summer session. Since the war is happening around them at that time, it starts to have an…

people, though students need to be aware of reality and societal situations. Keeping middle and high school students ignorant, by banning novels, is supposed to prevent prejudice and offense...but does it really help students? John Knowles' A Separate Peace is a highly debated book, whether or not to be included in school curriculums due to…

This piece of artwork is based upon the book, A Separate Peace by John Knowles. A Separate Peace is a story of two best friends, Gene and Finny. The two friends differ in the way that Gene excels at academics, while Finny thrives in athletics. Although it seems that the contrasting fields of excellence would allow their to be harmony between the boys, Gene becomes envious of Finny and grows to resent him due to his athletic capabilities. Finny is oblivious to Gene’s hatred and still thinks of…

In 1941 the attack on Pearl Harbor caused the United States to go to war, which forced many American boys prematurely become men. The novel “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles set in an era about two best friends attending an all-boys private school on the east coast and their personal struggles during World War II. The main character Gene is a teenager from the south, who arrived at The School of Devon where he meets his best friend Phineas. Finny is an optimistic, athletic kid who introduces…

A Separate Peace by John Knowles had a number of underlying metaphors throughout the story; relating the lives of Gene and Finny to the war taking place and giving Finny many Christ-like characteristics. The metaphor of war was not obvious until it was mentioned in class, and it made sense as soon as it was stated. In general, Gene’s beliefs of his friendship with Finny are similar to the beliefs of opposing sides in a war. While Gene had suspicious feelings towards his best friend, Finny was…

Though Phineas and Gene were best friends, they couldn’t have been any more different. Throughout the novel “A Separate Peace”, these characters pushed through many trials and tribulations including death. Faced with the war and life on the battlefield, the boys were ready and able. However, not one of them was prepared for what would happen right at home. In a twist of events, Gene causes Finny to fall out of a tree and break his leg; a break that would ultimately kill him. Because of his…