Brinker Hadley In A Separate Peace

Dr. Wayne Dyer once said, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” This saying is also true for the personality of Brinker Hadley, a character in A Separate Peace. In this novel, Brinker and his group of friends spend their time at Devon School making memories with exciting, yet dangerous adventures. With the idea of World War II in the back of their minds, the boys are trying to focus on the joys in life. However, a situation caused by Brinker’s questioning brings great sorrow. Brinker Hadley represents a headstrong, lawful, and perhaps misconceived character in this novel,
Brinker Hadley believes in himself and his ideas, letting nothing stand in the way of his success. In A Separate Peace, Finny and

Gene decide to do a double jump off of a tree into a river. As they are getting ready to jump, Gene purposely shakes the limb, not realizing what he has done to his best friend. After Finny breaks his leg, Brinker has the sudden instinct to figure out what exactly happened. He mainly questions Gene and “bet it was all [his] doing” (88). Finny does not show up for the new school year, so now Gene is left without a roommate. Brinker accuses Gene and says that his whole plan was to have the room to himself. Brinker’s headstrong personality allows him to make assumptions without caring what Gene or other classmates think.
The only thing that Brinker trusts are the facts. The most impactful event that Brinker is known for is organizing the trial in the Assembly Room. Brinker has a feeling that Gene has more to do with Finny’s broken leg than he says he does. On the night of the trial, Brinker along with three cohorts, wake Gene and Finny up and bring them to the Assembly Room. Everyone knew what the questioning would be about as soon as Brinker mentioned “You see how Finny limps?” (166). For Brinker, this night was perfect and he knew it. With Leper, the only other person at the tree when Finny fell, back in town he has the perfect witness to interrogate. Asking Leper just the right questions, Brinker finally uncovered the answer he was after; Gene had shaken the tree and caused Finny to fall. Even with Gene’s confession, Brinker wanted to hear more because “ [They] haven’t got all the facts” (177). Brinker feels that Gene has more to say and that he should explain himself. Gene refused, but feeling like the hero, Brinker’s lawful drive had been satisfied. Sadly, he did know that the trail will bring a negative outcome.
Even with the many examples of Brinker’s rebellious intentions, some people might still see that he is trying to do his friends, especially Finny, a favor.

After the trial, he thinks that he has exposed Gene for the dangerous friend that he is. He had not realized that he has actually caused an incident for Finny’s leg to break again, this time not only taking sports away from Finny but also his life. Although Brinker now seems like the antagonist, Brinker was a likable character at the beginning. Even Gene “liked Brinker in spite of his Winter Session efficiency,” according to Gene, “almost everyone liked Brinker” (87). Maybe Brinker is a bully who doesn’t give up with his facts, but maybe Brinker is also a likeable character who accidently put his friends, that he cares deeply for, in a devastating situation with Finny. Brinker is misconceived by some readers. Even though he could have handled situations differently, his intentions are pure.
Brinker Hadley is an important character in A Separate Peace who shows that not everything is how it seems .Through Brinkers suspicions, he is not afraid to say what he thinks and does not see the consequences. Brinker also uses the facts in order to create a trial in which the truth is discovered. Lastly, Brinker had the right ideas and beliefs, but when trying to show others he ruins his friendships and creates hardships. Brinker represents a headstrong, lawful, and perhaps misconceived character in this

novel.