An Analysis Of John Knowles A Separate Peace
Robert Dallek once said, “Don’t be intimidated by people who seem to be experts. Hear their point of view and get their judgment because it is not their life that is going to be affected as much as your future”. Why is it that human beings feel intimidated by others? Everyone has their own fears and insecurities. In A Separate Peace by John Knowles, the main character and the narrator, Gene Forrester feels a sense of inferiority to his best friend, Phineas (Finny). When an individual feels intimidated by another, they do anything within their capability in order to feel secure. An individual may search for ways to be overpower someone, try new things to fit in, and hope that the other lands in a certain predicament. People should strive to
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Gene hopes to find satisfaction in the misfortune of Finny. The anticipation of an incident occurring allows Gene to carry on. “This time he wasn’t going to get away with it. I could feel myself becoming unexpectedly excited at that” (Knowles 27). Gene finds Finny to be perfect, he wants to prove a point that Finny has flaws and makes mistakes and there is no exception. Like a detective thrilled to reveal the murderer, Finny is exhilarated to uncover the true face of Finny. Furthermore, Gene’s aspirations for a misfortune to happen to Finny grow stronger as days pass by. Gene and Finny decide to jump into the river together and once they were on the limb, Gene takes a step forward and jounces on the limb causing Finny to fall with a loud thud to Gene’s astonishment. “It was the first clumsy physical action I had ever seen him make, with unthinking sureness I moved out on the limb and moved out on the limb and jumped into the river, every trace of my fear had forgotten” (Knowles 60). Gene subconsciously hopes that Finny will fall however he does not expect Finny to not have fast enough reflexes to avoid the incident. Gene’s feelings of vulnerability grew to the extent where it was considered overwhelming. One’s feeling can ultimately become powerful enough to lose control of their
Gene hopes to find satisfaction in the misfortune of Finny. The anticipation of an incident occurring allows Gene to carry on. “This time he wasn’t going to get away with it. I could feel myself becoming unexpectedly excited at that” (Knowles 27). Gene finds Finny to be perfect, he wants to prove a point that Finny has flaws and makes mistakes and there is no exception. Like a detective thrilled to reveal the murderer, Finny is exhilarated to uncover the true face of Finny. Furthermore, Gene’s aspirations for a misfortune to happen to Finny grow stronger as days pass by. Gene and Finny decide to jump into the river together and once they were on the limb, Gene takes a step forward and jounces on the limb causing Finny to fall with a loud thud to Gene’s astonishment. “It was the first clumsy physical action I had ever seen him make, with unthinking sureness I moved out on the limb and moved out on the limb and jumped into the river, every trace of my fear had forgotten” (Knowles 60). Gene subconsciously hopes that Finny will fall however he does not expect Finny to not have fast enough reflexes to avoid the incident. Gene’s feelings of vulnerability grew to the extent where it was considered overwhelming. One’s feeling can ultimately become powerful enough to lose control of their