Setting
Somewhere amidst the vast lands of New Hampshire,
most of the story takes place in and around the many
dormitories and premises of the institution, known
formally as Devon School, a boarding school located
on Gilman Street. Its storyline through World War II moves
transitionally from the fields of Devon School to the home of
Elwin "Leper" Lepellier in Virginia.
Themes
A Separate Peace by John Knowles brings forth many themes
that can be carefully observed as setpoints for connecting the
reader to the writer’s intention and motifs. In this novel one
of the main highlights include
“Sometimes through codependency you find your identity”
“A war is not always a battle of the arms or the body but rather
of the heart through which its emotions are expressed, an internal
struggle” “Respect for an other’s ability can and is the only thing
that will bring those of two different identities in unison agreement.”
Character
Taking part in this epic novel were some dramatic characters
such as: Gene Forrester, Finny, Brinker Hadley, and Leper Lepellier.
Their actions and roles consequently affected the lives of each other
throughout the novel.
Conflict
The series of conflicts throughout this novel is seen to be
an internal as well as external conflict of sorts, influenced and
pressurized by the many causes that led to the climax. At first
Gene Forrester befriended Finny with joy but his doubts came
when he judged Finny by who he was physically, that is a strong
athlete, and his disruptions in his daily life was because of Finny’s
influence on his life. Then later to understand Finny’s sincere actions
were to help him. As time passed an occasion arrived in which Finny
and Gene decided to climb the tree and jump in the water but this
time together. In their moment of happiness together, Gene accidently
shook the branch accidently causing Finny to lose balance and fall
altogether damaging himself. From there on, the story goes where
Gene is running away from everyone who is saying he was responsible
for Finny’s lost ability to barely walk, and at the same time Gene tries
to find his identity whether he truly did kill him, what Finny thought
of this, how will he be accepted after this incident.
Symbols
In this novel many things can be seen to stand out as powerful symbols.
Some things include:
Devon School – Overtaking their lives since their young age, this boarding
becomes a central part of their lives, and it comes to be that anything
outside of it is seen as “fake”, something that is only heard and seen in
newspapers, the rest was the tragedies, the adventures, the roles, and
the power held at Devon School.
World War II – Came to be a symbol, a door into the free world, for once
you entered no longer did you have to think of school but rather touring
the world and the adventures that accompanied it, it became every boy’s dream
it marked their adulthood.
Tree by the lake – A strong symbolism of friendship, and the binding factor
between the two friends Gene and Finny, even though it divided them
once, it brought them together and both cherished the moments and
their close friendship that came to be because of their meetings and
other activities at this tree.
