A Seperate Peace
Friendship is the main theme in John Knowles' novel A Separate Peace. Gene Forrester, an intellectual student and Finny, his roommate at Devon School who is usually misbehaving, has charismatic ways, which usually exempt him from punishment. The two have opposing interests and personalities, yet still remain close friends. Gene, envying Finnys' athletic ability, thinks that Finny, in return, envies his academic achievements, and he suspects that Finny is trying to divert him from his work. Gene's doubts turn into indignant hatred. Yet, when Gene realizes that he has been mistaken of the existence of Finny trying to distract him due to the fact that one day, Finny expresses a desire to see Gene succeed, Gene realizes they have been friends the whole time, and through it all that's what friendship is. Together they get through the summer, and the hardships of losing other friends and classmates
One night, Gene goes to visit Finny in the school infirmary and Finny sends him away. As a result of Finny being back at the school Gene, withdraws his decision to join the army, even though he told Brinker he would. Soon after, the doctor is operating on Finny's leg when bone marrow leaves the bone, enters the blood stream, and kills Finny. That night, however, Gene finds out that Finny has returned to Devon. Each of the characters had a quality about them, which the other held on to, which justified their friendship. Gene, being his closest and dearest friend, can barely deal with it. You can tell Gene held on to there friendship after Finny's death, because the story is a flashback, and Gene goes to the school many years later, recalling all these incidents, wanting to see his friend one more time. When Finny attempts to make the jump Gene bends his knees, causing the branch to break Finny to fall and break his leg. Brinker Hadley, another friend at the school, suggests to Gene that he enlists in the army too, and so Gene agrees. This also proves Gene's devotion and loyalty towards Finny, making the main theme, friendship even more significant through out the novel. The two have reconciled, and they both felt as things were going well. Finny urges Gene into making a dangerous jump off of a tree into the near by river, and the two start a secret society based on this as the ritual. This novel is a clear example of what friends do for each other and how friends act. When Gene goes to visit Finny during his summer brake, Finny won't listen to him explaining it was his fault.
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