The Motif of War in "A Separate Peace&quot essay

The Motif of War in "A Separate Peace" essay

The novel A Separate Peace is a novel set in New Hampshire in a school by the name of Devon. A student, Gene Forrester, is bright and an intellectual. He has a daredevil roommate by the name of Finny and they become friends in the summer of 1942. Finny has immense talent in athletics and Gene starts to envy him. On the other hand, Gene thinks that Finny is trying to distract him from studies because he performs better than he (Finny) does. This brings out hatred between the two boys although it is not visible to an outsider.

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Since the book is set during the World War II, it is important to note that the novel’s main motif is that of war. Gene is in war with his roommate Finny although the latter is not aware. Gene is not happy when Finny shatters the swimming record after only one try. He envies the athletic prowess of his roommate and is out to finish it. This is the reason why Gene shakes the branch that sends Finny tumbling down where he breaks his leg. This is the end of the Finny’s athletic and it affects Gene forcing him to confess that he shook the branch on purpose. On the other hand, Finny knows nothing about the existence of the rivalry between the two and is honest with his roommate.

The idea of war is extended to the life of Finny when he is becomes the assistant manager of the crew team. The team’s manager cannot stand Finny and he has to resign. Gene agrees to enlist for war but abandons the idea once Finny returns to school. When Finny tells Gene that he intended to train for the Olympics, Gene offers to train for the Olympics in his place. However, because of the war, Finny says that sports are not important. War plays a crucial role in the lives of these young people because it keeps young men from eclipsing the older authorities in the words of Finny.

In an attempt to unearth, the circumstances that led to the breaking of Finny’s leg, the other in their class organize a tribunal. During the hearings, Finny walks out angrily and falls on the stairs where he breaks his leg again. During an operation, the doctor makes a mistake that leads to the death of Finny. This affects Gene a lot for he feels that he is responsible for the death of Finny. Gene heart is in war with what a simple act has led to. He realizes when late that Finny was his true friend although Gene had doubts in the beginning.

Although most of the things that happen in the novel are not the real war, Gene and Finny have been in a war for a long time. Gene thinks that Finny is envious of his (Gene) academic prowess but this is not the truth. The person in war here is Gene because he hates the fact that Finny is unbeatable in athletics. Gene hatches a plot to make sure that Finny does not continue to dominate the athletics field. However, Finny is not concerned by the fact that Gene is an intellectual who is always on top of their class. In the end, the other boys graduate and enlist for the military where they go to engage in real war.

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