A Separate Peace by John Knowles

1259 Words3 Pages

The main character in my book, A Separate Peace, is Gene Forrester. At the beginning of the book, Gene is an innocent boy, going along with everything his roommate, the outgoing and energetic Phineas, says. “What was I doing up here anyway? Why did I let Finny talk me into doing stupid things like this?” (17) During this scene in the book, Gene is questioning his decision to jump out of a very tall tree, which he was convinced to climb by Phineas. As the story continues, Gene starts to believe that Phineas is trying to sabotage him. He thinks that Phineas is doing this so that he can be better at everything. However, in reality, Phineas is honestly just trying to have fun with Gene. “You and Phineas are even already… You did hate him for beating that school swimming record, but so what? He hated you for getting an A in every course but one last term. You would have had an A except for him… Finny had deliberately set out to wreck my studies!” (53) After this realization, Gene is bitter toward Phineas. When the chance arrives, Gene takes it. Furious and not thinking, Gene knocks Phineas out of the tree they are both standing in. “And then my knees bent and I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me… and then he tumbled sideways.” (60) After this incident, Gene feels incredibly guilty. He tries to confess to Phineas, but Finny just thinks he is crazy. He really believes that he just slipped and fell. Finally, Phineas realizes the truth and becomes furious with Gene. However, when he runs away from Gene on his already broken leg, he falls and causes another fracture. “Then these separate sounds collided into the general tumult of his body falling clumsily down the white marble steps.” (177) While ... ... middle of paper ... ...re shuttled around America in pursuit… Most of us, it seemed, would be killed.” (138-139) This book is written in first person point of view. The main character, and narrator, of the book is Gene Forrester. I know this to be true because the story is told with words like “I” and “Me.” It also shares Gene’s thoughts with us and gives us his opinions. “I knew, perhaps alone knew, that this was false.” (73) There is almost no author bias about events. Gene does not express many opinions of important things in his life, like the enemies in WWII. “This enemy who never attacked that way- if he ever attacked at all; If he was indeed the enemy.” (204) The only major opinion expressed is that Phineas was not a very trustworthy and loyal person. This could be considered bias, as many students at Devon would most likely argue that Phineas was a kind person and a good friend.

Open Document