| A Separate Peace Essay, Research Paper
Breaking The Mold
In John Knowle’s, A Separate Peace, there is a transformation in all the key elements in
the book, from the rivers to the tree to the seasons to the characters. The transformation is
specifically seen in Leper, Gene, and Phineas. These three young men experience a change not just
because of the transitions through adolescence. These changes also come about because of the war,
the school, and an injury.
Leper Lepellier is a very odd young man. He is quiet and is finds himself always taken by
surprise. He really is not popular and that does not concern him in any way. Leper really has no
true friends at the Devon school, but talks to Gene. He entertains himself by collecting snails,
looking for beaver damns, and skiing. His personality does not allow him to depend on anyone for
help. As time progresses and the other boys start the winter session he decides to enroll in the war.
A couple of months later Gene receives a telegram from Leper saying he is in his “Christmas
location” (131) This is the first sign that Leper demonstrates that he needs people. He realizes the
happiness, fear and anger have to be shared with others. Leper then tells Gene “I escaped” (135)
and he says he did it to please himself. He is starting to realize things that are going on in the
world. He no longer lives in his bubble.
Gene Forrester is a quiet, envious, introverted, and lonely young man. His insecurities are
especially seen when Finny is around. There is a constant rivalry through Gene’s eyes between
them. He always chooses to compete or argue with Phineas. The first example of his competitive
personality is seen when Phineas asks him to jump out of the tree. Phineas says, “you were very
good, once I shamed you into it. .. I am good for you that way. You have a tendency to back away
from things otherwise.” and Gene states “you didn’t shame anybody into anything. I never backed
away from anything in my life.” (10) Gene would have never jumped off the tree if it were not for
Finny. Gene depends on Finny as his security blanket. As time progresses the rivalry increases and
the tension in Gene’s head is gets worse. When Gene can not take anymore of Finny and his
abilities his jealousy takes control and he jounces the limb. As a result, Gene makes him fall and
injuring his leg. When Finny falls it is as if all of Gene’s prayers have been answered. Finny has to
leave Devon for the rest of the summer session and part of the winter session. During this time
Gene finds out who he truly is. His transformation occurs, he finds himself making decisions on his
own, like when he chooses to go shovel snow on the railroad. Not just that but he also finds himself
not second guessing every move he makes. By the end of the novel he no longer sees Finny as a
demigod but a normal human being. After his transformation to a mature, confident adult he
states, “ I could see the amount of fear I had lived in.” (2)
On the other hand Phineas’s transformation is more of a lost than a gain. At the beginning
of the novel he is a confident , athletic, and a handsome young man. He is seen like super natural
God in the eyes of many, especially his peers and teachers. Gene describes Finny as “the essence of
this careless peace.” (17) Whatever Finny says to do people follow it. He created the Super Suicide
Society, made a winter carnival at Devon and invented the sport of Blitzball. This sport brought
about “his own athletic gifts to their highest pitch.” this right here demonstrated his godly abilities.
(31) Another example of his this inner confidence is when he breaks the swimming record. Gene is
the only one to witness Fiiny breaking the record. The thing is Finny does not want he broke the
record. Phineas knows his ability but wants to keep it a secret. When Gene pushes Finny of the tree
the beginning of the transformation occurs. It was as if his “godliness” was taken away when he
injured his leg. He came down to normal humanity with the fall, as if an angel lost its wings.
In conclusion, just things everything changes with time so do the characters in John
Knowles’s A Separate Peace. Gene, Phineas, and Leper find themselves growing up and
transforming from boys to men. Transitions through adolescence cause change and these boys
have plenty of to experience in the two sessions. Their attitude towards who they are and life in
general change.
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