Gene Forrester Essay -- Literary Analysis, A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace begins with the main character, factor Forrester, returning to the Devon School for boys in search of two places from his callowness that he has an emotional connection to. The first place is the marble step of the First Academy Building, and the second is the tree by the river which he go ups smaller, sear by age (Knowles, 14). He comes here so that he cigarette resolve what happened there seventeen years ago and move on with his life to find peace within himself.Once Gene has visited the tree, we find him plunk foring before the tree once again, but now in his y step to the foreh. Gene is portrayed as a reserved person, a effectual student, and a good ath allowe. We also meet his friend Phineas (also known as Finny), an amazing athlete, not so good of a student, and an out-going, positive, people-person. The two of them stand before this enormous tree that to someone like Phineas is an adventure, and to the other boys evince is foreboding, just like the f uture that awaits them. The tree was tremendous, an irate, steely black steeple beside the river. I was damned if Id climb it. The hell with it. No one but Phineas could think of such a crazy idea. He of course saw nothing the slightest bit intimidating about it. (Knowles, 14) The older, seventeen year old boys stand out out of this tree in provision for ball War II that looms over the characters during this story. Wanting to jump out of the tree shows the eagerness of younger boys wanting to play their part in the war, like a challenge to prove their manhood. Phineas jumps out of the tree and encourages Gene to do so as well they are the only ones who jump out of the tree that day and it sparks a bond between them.World War II is an important part of this story because it forces Gene a... ...ree. So much has changed since his childhood, but only now does he consume the authorisation to face what had happened. Perhaps the tree was no longer so great and menacing because like all obstacles we face in our youth, when returning to it, it evermore seems a bit silly to have been so competitive, or to have made such a huge deal, or become so emotional over something so small and insignificant in the proposal of things. The tree itself wasnt what was truly vital it was what it symbolized. It was the struggle between Phineas and Gene, the brand of war, and all the trials from adolescence packed into one moment of his history that actually held the big(a) Genes attention. Returning to this spot and the marble steps, like the tombstone of a grave (the headstone for Gene and Phineas it could seem), finally allowed Gene to let go and create finally for himself, peace.