Separate Peace Theme

¨I felt that I was not, never had been, and never would be a living part of this overpoweringly solid and deeply meaningful world around me.¨ (Knowles 186) In a book the book A Separate Peace by John Knowles two boys Gene and Finny are supposed best friends, but there is a rivalry that lies between them. As the book goes on Gene expresses his feelings of identity and jealousy within himself and towards Finny. The book setting is right at the beginning of WWII. Along with the physical war taking place, there is a war between these two boys. John Knowles uses universal themes such as identity and friendship to demonstrate the struggle of keeping the peace within a relationship. Throughout the book Gene battles with a one way rivalry with …show more content…
Gene is thankful towards him, but is also resentful. ¨Yes he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn't have been on that damn limb except for him. I wouldn't have turned around, and so lost my balance, if he hadn't been there. I didn't feel any tremendous rush of gratitude toward Phineas.¨ ( Knowles 33) This shows the way Gene feels towards Finny, even though he saved his life. This is just the beginning of the feelings of insecurity and jealousy that Gene is feeling. Finny saved his life and thinks only proud thoughts while Gene is resenting him from the inside. Finny doesn't know Genes true feelings because Gene never expresses them. As the book goes on Gene starts to explain his true feelings towards his so called ¨best friend¨. In chapter four Gene admits that he has to work for his grades that Finny assumes comes easy for him. As Finny is telling Gene that he works to hard Gene says, ¨After all, he should talk. He had won and been proud to win the Galbraith Football trophy and the Contact Sport award, and there were two or three other athletic prizes he has sure to get this year or next. If I was head of the class on Graduation Day and made a speech and won the