A Separate Peace: Character Analysis

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A Separate Peace by John Knowles tells a story about two young boys Gene and Finny. Gene Forrester the main character returns to his old school Devon School as a young man in his early thirties. He visits a stairwell in the school and a tree near the river. The tree prompts him to tell the reader the tale of his friendship with Phineas and how it changed his life. The reason of the tree is revealed right away. The reason of the stairwell is not revealed until the novel’s climax. For now, Gene recalls how he and Finny would climb the tree and leap into the river. Finny shows no fear, since his balance is better than anyone’s. Gene, on the other hand, is frightened to take the dive. At one point he is saved from falling by Finny, who steadies

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