A separate Peace

People become tragically alienated from societies for having strange opinions about life and for clenching on to their moral beliefs. In the tragedy “A Separate Peace” John Knowles explores this idea thoroughly through its modern tragic hero Phineas. Because of his personal belief of not having enemies, and ability to withstand things others can not handle, Phineas does not seem to fit in his violent society and thus can be considered a lonely alien. Phinny suspects that the rest of the society beholds the same mentality and tries to seek equality between people, which turns out to be his personal tragic flaw leading to his suffering and downfall. The tragedy that Phineas goes through allows him to appear as a modern tragic hero to the readers, leaving a deep impact inside. Phineas is considered a modern tragic hero for having four basic characteristics: sacrificing, being a victim of society, suffering from his flaw, and leaving a sense of triumph, which leave a deep meaningful impact on the reader.

Sacrificing for the sake of a strong friendship, Phineas is seen as a modern tragic hero. In this novel Phineas mainly sacrifices for one reason, which is his precious friendship with Gene. The two develop a strong friendship and d

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Moreover, we understand that the enemy Gene kills was actually just another side of him that longed to be like Phinny, and now that it is gone, he feels his problems are gone with it.

Although Phineas dies in the end, a sense of triumph is evident where Gene benefits making Phinny a modern tragic hero. Tragically Phineas suffers in his violent society and remains confused about this violence, ending up being a true victim looking for a separate peace. The readers first take a bad impression of Phineas by seeing Gene’s suffering, however; a major catharsis develops later on when the truth is revealed. Moreover, the readers wonder who really deserves to die for the sake of the other, but again, they realize that Phinny would never fit in such a society. Sit down you damn fool… I’m

going to hit you if you don’t sit down… I’ll kill you if you don’t shut

up… I don’t know anything.

Phinny’s distinguished character is considered to be a modern tragic hero for several reasons which leave a deep meaningful impact on the reader. Before, Gene was struggling to find his true identity while going through his change from a child to a man at an early age because of war. Therefore he forces himself to believe the opposite to save their friendship. It is also sensed that he feels disappointed and guilty for trusting Gene, and that his blindness to the betrayal and his pure heart is what made him reach this madness and run away. Weren’t you?” (Knowles, 147) He simply can not have an enemy and easily accuse someone, especially a close soul mate like Gene. Phineas’s death helped Gene mature and realize that Finny was never an actual enemy to him, but instead, he was undergoing a war with his own subconscious and jealousy from Finny:

I never killed anybody and I never developed an intense level of hatred

for the enemy. Throughout the novel Phineas fights the inevitable with a deep reality of love and peace, refusing to believe that there is ever a winner or someone being defeated. At the climax of the story where the trial is held and Gene is accused, it is sensed that Phineas finally comprehends what his friend has done to him.

Approximate Word count = 1123
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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