A Separate Peace by John Knowles describes what it is like for two young boys to go through a challenging time of battle, World War II, and how the war reflected on them. The two best friends, Gene and Phineas (Finny), attend Devon school together and strive to live at peace while a raucous was surrounding them. The outer world of World War II interferes with the inner world of Devon School in multiple ways.
             The outside world of World War II causes everyone in Devon school to have a lot of concern for their country. The class politician, Brinkler Hadley, suggests that Gene and himself both join the military. At first, Gene feels that it was a good idea but after he agrees and makes a commitment, he drops out. Finny, an excellent and inspiring athlete experiences conflicts, which are due to the craze of the war. While Finny is a great athlete, he does not have as much intelligence as Gene does, and Finny envies that. Gene and Finny have a jealous friendship, in which the two of them compete with one another to see who is better.
             The war is a competition between countries. Finny was against war while Gene is all for it. He had decides that at this time, nothing is as important as the war. Finny protests, saying that war is nothing but a scheme in order to keep adolescents busy. World War II comes from outside and begins weakening Finny and Gene's friendship. When Gene and Finny joke around one day and Finny jumps up on top of a tree. He is about to jump into a lake when Gene shook the branch. Finny falls to the ground and brakes his leg inadequately. Gene decides to go visit Finny at the school's hospital. Gene realizes that his best friend is not recovering well at all. Finny passes away shortly after and with an enormous amount of strength, Gene holds back all of his tears. Gene knows that Finny was peaceful and perfectly oblivious as to what war really meant.
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