The Problem Of People Relationship In The Novel A Separate Peace By John Knowles

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Realizing betrayal can be one of the hardest things for a person to do. People are sensitive and often attempt to hide things from themselves and avoid uncovering the truth about those situations in order to evade the pain that comes with that recognition.

In John Knowles novel A Separate Peace an inherent flaw of human nature causes Gene to subconsciously jounce the limb of a tree on which Finny stands. This event spirals into a never-ending trauma for Finny, of which he attempts to make the best of both physically and emotionally, continuing to see only the good in all people. Finnys deliberate blindness to realize Genes wrongdoing serves as a shield from the immense pain Finny knows he must experience. Although Finnys loss of innocence is fomented by the acceptance of the brutal reality of the war, ultimately both Gene and Finnys loss of innocence comes with the recognition of Genes betrayal, personal war, and secret resentment discovered in opposition to Finnys separate peace and unconditional love. Finnys desperate attempts to turn his back to the pain of his inability to enlist in the war cause Finnys creation of a separate peace where the war is a thing of the imagination. He is convinced that if he believes it enough he will not only be able to secure his homeostasis of security and peace within his small secluded world but also succeed to pull Gene into that sheltered world with him. Behavior with the understanding and love Gene most definitely doesnt deserve. Finny excels in controlling his emotions and using his uncertainty to his advantage.

When Leper comes in and comments that the two figures on the tree had been like an engine with two pistons, Finny finally comes to grasp the extent of Genes malevolence and resentment. Phineas had gotten up unnoticed from his chair. I dont care, he interrupted in an even voice&he shook his head sharply, closing his eyes, and then he turned to regard me with a handsome mask of a face& You get the rest of the facts, Brinker! (176-77). Here Phineas realizes that he had known all along but had purposely not wanted to lose Genes friendship, no matter how one-sided. Because Finny loved Gene even though he hurt him, his acceptance of Genes actions is especially painful. In his acceptance of Genes betrayal Finny loses innocence but in turn matures with the liberation of the truth. With the mutual recognition of the differing friendship values inherently present in each boy, conflict is inevitable and innocence is lost as Genes betrayal, personal war, and secret resentment meet Finnys ever-separate peace and unconditional love.

Human nature harbors a monster that it cannot deny, and that is the demon of jealousy. Even though there is competition between even the closest of friends, none are this deeply rooted in evil. Finny loses innocence when he comes to face the reality of the war, but the ultimate loss of innocence in both boys occurs when they realize the others role in each of their downfalls.

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