A seprate peace

Finny represented childhood. Firstly, Finny tries to enjoy life. Whenever finny faced a difficult situation he would not worry about it and instead play a game. Finny was always playing games and influenced everyone else to play games as well. When Gene returned from his visit to leper he “found him in the middle of a snow ball fight.” (p.152) Gene went on to say “This gathering had obviously been Finny’s work. Who else could have inveigled twenty people to the farthest extremity of the school to throw snowballs at each other?” (p.153) these quotes show that it was common for Phineas to gather large amounts of people and play games with them. Secondly, when Finny broke his leg Gene focused on non-childlike tasks. While visiting Finny at his house Finny asked Gene “‘you aren’t going to start living by the rules, are you?’ I grinned at him ‘Oh no, I wouldn’t do that,’ and that was the most false thing, the biggest lie of all.” (p.71). Gene started following the school rules again. Gene acted more mature and because of Finny’s absence there was no one to make him do otherwise. This shows that without Finny, Gene matures and becomes adult like. Thirdly, Finny makes Gene do actions Gene would otherwise never do. Finny once said “‘let’s go to the beach’” (p.45). and after thought of the risks like the fact that “going there risked expulsion” (p.46). Gene said “All right”(p.46). This shows that like Finny is trying to make gene have a good time while it is still possible. Finny being childhood means that he must be left behind in order for Gene to mature.

Gene represented adulthood. Firstly, Gene focuses on school work instead of fun and games. While Finny prefers playing games Gene prefers studying. Gene was talking with someone when h...

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... other. Gene and Finny represent two parts of one person, childhood and adulthood, and in order for the person to mature childhood must be left behind.

A separate peace is an allegory for growing up or leaving your childhood behind. In the book Finny was left behind. In order for Gene to grow up Gene must leave behind Finny. Finny represented Innocence and childhood. Gene`s innocence and childhood had to die in order for Gene to grow up. Gene could not remain young forever. World War II forced Gene to grow up. If you consider that WW2 represents responsibilities then, leaving Finny behind was necessary for Gene to take on his responsibilities in life. Finny could not go to war because childhood must be left behind in order for people to take on adult responsibilities. In “A SEPARATE PEACE” the two main characters, gene and finny, represent childhood and adulthood.