A Separate Peace Innocence Quotes

John Knowles, A Separate Peace: Gene and Loss of Innocence In the novel A Separate Peace by the author John Knowles, loss of innocence is portrayed in the book. Characters Gene and Finny, display this theme of innocence throughout the novel. Mostly Gene takes a turn in life and the whole point of view on the world that they see, is changed. John Knowles places events throughout the book so that Gene and his school buddies are able to have emotional and physical changes in their life. Gene has gone through a loss of innocence through these events. Through A Separate Peace, the most symbolic thing is the tree and the river, because it is where Gene Forrester and the boys lose their innocence. The name Gene Forrester along with the Naguamsett also tell the people about Gene’s life. Finally, when Gene realizes it is time for him to enlist. Analyzing the importance of the tree and the Devon River is very vital to reading Separate Peace. As Gene narrated, “. . . I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me for an instant with extreme interest, and then he tumbled sideways, broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud,” (Knowles 60). This limb symbolizes danger in this quote. It also shows the first major event in the novel, when Finny is double jumped off the tree, going
Along with the name Forrester and the Naguamsett. The loss of innocence throughout the book happens all around the rivers and forests. Knowles gives us symbolism for the reader to figure where the boys lose their innocence, but it is throughout the book in different places. The final transition into adulthood is when Gene enlists after talking to Brinker’s dad. That is where the storyline of loss of innocence ends, and were we the people need to be able to see what Knowles is trying to