Water, although often taken for granted, is the lifeline of Earth. All carbon-based life requires some quantity of water to survive. However, in John Knowles’ A Separate Peace, water signifies much more than survival. The novel opens with Gene Forrester visiting The Devon School, his old boarding school. During the visit, Gene visits a marble staircase, as well as a tree, both of which cause him to recall memories of his old friend, Phineas. Gene tells his Devon memories, water becomes a key symbol in the story. Clean water, dirty water, snow, and bodies of water encapsulate Gene’s childhood recollections. Connections between water and Gene’s childhood began at the start of the novel, developing all the way through it, establishing water as …show more content…
The definition of cleanliness is the state of being morally uncontaminated. This makes clean water a perfect symbol of Gene’s adolescence, a time when his innocence still remained. At the start of the novel, present-day Gene visits Devon. Despite the rain, Gene decides to make his way out to the tree which he, Finny, and many others jumped from years ago. Gene ponders over his childhood at the tree. Gene thinks to himself, “Changed, I headed back through the mud. I was drenched; anybody could see it was time to come in out of the rain” (14). In this scene, the clean water which falls from the sky is used as a symbol of Gene’s innocence. While at the tree, Gene was being “drenched” in both memories and rain. Once Gene collects himself and stops pondering, he states that he needed to come out of the rain. What Gene means is that he must literally come out of the rain, and figuratively leave his …show more content…
Gene moves away from the Devon River, still making his way to the Crew House. He spots the Naguamsett River, a river far dirtier than the Devon River. Gene says, “It [The Naguamsett] was ugly, saline, fringed with marsh, mud, and seaweed… Its movements were governed by unimaginable forces like the Gulf Stream…” (76). The Naguamsett, as Gene describes it, is filthy, impure, and commanded by outside forces. Just as the Naguamsett has been soiled by uncontrollable forces, the fate of Gene’s innocence is determined by the unruly war. This represents a connection between the dirty water of the Naguamsett, and the forces that threaten to strip Gene of his innocence. Later in the story, during the winter session, water is used as a symbol in its frozen state. At the start of the winter session, Gene says, “In the same way the war, beginning almost humorously… commenced its invasion of the school. The early snow was commandeered as its advanced guard” (93). Gene, in his own mind, compares the snow of the depressing winter session with the start of the war. In this situation, the snow acts as a symbol for the war. War will effectively strip Gene of his innocence, just as the winter session will strip him of his summer session freedom. Dirty water and snow symbolize forces which threaten to strip
On the contrary, the Naguamsett is a rough saltwater river. It is the war itself: dark and unknown. The Naguamsett is dangerous just like the war going on, and scary like the possibilities of draft or enlistment. I also think that the rivers compare well to the two main characters, Finny and Gene. Gene is rough and unpredictable (pg. 30-32, pg. 34, and pg. 48) like the Naguamsett River. He is also the one to acknowledge the dark qualities of the war more. Gene is less stable (pg. 88-89), and small things can quickly change his attitude. Finny, though, is a source of fun for everyone (pg. 18-19, pg. 24, and 78-80). He is loyal, charming, and everyone knows he is a stable presence at Devon (pg. 10 and pg. 12-13). Finny is more like the Devon River, because he is adventurous, but controlled enough so that he is a safe influence. The "friends" are completely opposite personalities like the Devon and Naguamsett
A Separate Peace, written by John Knowles, is a seemingly simple yet heartbreaking story that gives the reader an inside look and analysis of the reality of human nature. Set permanently in the main character Gene’s point of view, the audience is first taken to the present of a reflective and now wise man (Gene) and then plunged into his past back in 1942 to relive the harsh lessons that youth brought him. Along with vivid imagery of tranquil days past, a view into the social construct of a boy’s private school, Devon, and the looming presence of World War 2 on the horizon, there is also a significant power struggle that the reader can observe almost instantly. Conquering the need to be supreme in the situations of the war, high school, social interactions, and even simple moments that
At the beginning of the novel, the motif of water is used to represent Sarah and Handful’s hope for freedom and unnoticeable, understated rebellions. The imagery of water is utilized to represent Sarah’s quiet defiance in her campaign for autonomy and fight to become a lawyer.
Water. It expresses its’ power in the form of hurricanes and flash floods. It displays its gentleness, washing dirt off a child's scabbed knee. Water has been used to quench the thirst of many longing throats; and it has been the cause of death to those who unfavorably crossed its path. It possesses the power of total destruction, yet it holds the bases of all life. Generally, water has symbolized cleanliness and renewal. In the Bible, water was used in Baptism, cleansing the soul of original sin and offering a new life in the light of God. Water in itself is a natural purifier, washing the dirt from our bodies. Water is a symbol of
John Knowles’ novel A Separate Peace is about a few boys at a boarding school in New Hampshire. The story is centered around the friendship of two boys, Gene and Finny, at a boarding school in New Hampshire. Although in the beginning of their friendship Gene did not trust Finny, by the time he dies Gene feels as if a part of him has died, showing that he still felt closely bonded to him after all they had been through.
-Gene Forrester was the main character of the novel, A Separate Peace. I can relate to Gene’s competitiveness with his best friend, yet I admire Gene’s intelligence and determination. The reason I relate to Gene’s competitive nature is because I am also competitive with my friends, as they are with me. I admire Gene’s intelligence that not only naturally comes to him, but his determination to keep his grades up at The Devon School. The reason I admire him for these traits are because I find myself struggling to balance out my academics and social life during the school year. I see Gene as a role model because of the way he seems to maintain his studies and friends.
Crafted by author John Knowles in the late 1950’s, A Separate Peace is a heart-wrenching Bildungsroman narrated by a pensive Gene Forrester as he reflects upon trials and tribulations at his alma-mater, the Devon Boarding School. In an attempt to process the tragic loss of his best friend and coping with his own responsibility in his friend’s death, Gene returns to the campus to confront his progressive loss of Finny in both his plummet from the tree by the river to his tumble down the marble staircase. At a glance, Finny and Gene’s relationship appears to be a story of tragedy as Gene must forever carry the loss of his very best friend, but as the novel progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Gene and Finny’s relationship before Finny’s accident was far from being black-and-white. Diving deeper into the text, Gene reveals his true feelings about Finny that fluctuate from Finny being an object of obsession to being a source of resentment. As the story is told from Gene’s point of view, the reader is submerged into the realm of Gene’s odd fascinations with Finny and the manifestations of his feelings of hatred and idolization as he acts out in odd ways, such as mimicking Finny’s facial expressions and clothing and developing conspiracy theories in which Finny is planning Gene’s academic downfall. Gradually, the picture painted of the teenage Gene Forrester of A Separate Peace becomes more and more distorted as Gene’s sanity is called into question. His
Gene Forrester, the main character of A Separate Peace, tells a story of when he was in school. This story takes place during the time pf World War II. Gene is a well-minded boy who, at times, lets jealousy take over. If this book was narrated by Phineas, or Finny, it would have a happier nature to it. Gene is a smart, kind boy who thinks deeply into the problems of the world at the time. Finny, who is almost the complete opposite, sees conflict as he wants to view it. They are very similar in some ways as they share the same interests as the other.
Genes Lack of Peace Emerson states that “envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide” (370-372). The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles takes place at Devon school in rural New Hampshire, 1942-1943. The backdrop of World War II establishes a sense of parallels with the daily lives of the boys at Devon. Gene Forrester, which is the narrator, Finny’s roommate, and best friend unfolds the painful story of his growth during World War II when his jealously caused Finny’s tragic fall. The novel A Separate Peace demonstrates how Gene’s envy and imitation of finny affected him, his relationship with Finny, and Gene’s lack of peace. Gene’s envy and imitation of Finny affects him in many different ways. He is affected by his refusal to the truth and this begins to fuel his shadow
Another instance of character allusions in A Separate Peace is that of Gene Forrester to Eve and Finny to God. Eve is created the image of God as Gene is created in the image of Finny, however voluntarily that may be. After Finny’s injury, Gene discovers his “purpose from the first: to become a part of Phineas” (Knowles 85), and begins to live vicariously through Finny by attempting to seize his personality; he joins sports teams and even begins to wear Finny’s clothes. Secondly, the “fall” (both literal and figurative) is prompted by both Eve and Gene. The established innocence of the Devon School, or in Genesis, the Garden of Eden, is disrupted and tainted by the actions of these two characters. By taking the fruit, Eve permanently destroyed mankind’s innocence for eternity, and by jouncing the limb, Gene permanently destroyed the student’s pleasurable summer at the school. These parallels enhance the understanding of the texts by allowing readers to delve deeper into the true meaning of Gene’s intentions and his temptation to sin versus Eve’s unknowing temptations by the serpent to take the
A Separate Peace, which was written by John Knowles, has many themes. They are interconnected throughout the book. The most clearly portrayed theme is fear. It seems to be connected with the themes of friendship, jealousy, and war. As World War II was occurring, fear had taken over Gene's life through these various themes. When he visited Devon fifteen years after leaving the school, Gene claimed, "I had lived in fear while attending the school and I can now feel fear's echo" (Knowles 10). He felt like he had gained a separate peace after escaping from this fear.
The novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a story about a group of boys attending a boarding school. The story takes place from the summer of 1942 to the summer of 1943. The main protagonist, Gene, is a nervous, shy intellectual who tags along with his best friend, Phineas, a relaxed, attractive athlete. The two boys are close companions, practically never leaving each other’s side. During their senior year at the Devon school, the boys and their peers deal with the intertwining stress of highschool and World War 2. The story A Separate Peace by John Knowles is about identity, and reveals that when one is separated from one’s self, they are more lost than ever. This is because of Gene and Phineas’ relationship, Leper’s experience in
A Separate Peace by John Knowles is a novel about a teenaged boy named Gene Forrester at the Devon School in 1942 who is just trying to find himself. With the help of his best friend Phineas, Gene finally does it. Although, no success is without its obstacles. Gene goes through many problems, but there was one large fall he had to take. Much like the “Fall of Man”, the story of the Garden of Eden, Gene’s failure in the summer of 1942 led to a humongous consequence. The two stories are similar in atmosphere, mood, and the consciousness of their main characters. The summer of 1942 at the Devon School was a second “Fall of Man”.
During the 1940’s in America, times were hard. It was a time of war. In this period of history, people found themselves looking for peace and innocence. John Knowles’s A Separate Peace illustrates a boarding school, one of the only places left to find peace, where the main characters, Gene and Phineas, face their own internal wars with each other. Starting out their friendship seems strong and everlasting but as the novel progresses, like all friendships, the fire between them seems to dwindle. Although they share the goal of excelling, Phineas and Gene clearly differ in athletics, academics, and personality.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed the wonderful city of New Orleans leaving its citizens to rot. In Trouble the Water we got an inside look at what the city went through post Hurricane Katrina and the government’s response to save the people in danger. The film displays one family’s quest to survive the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.