Similarities Between A Separate Peace And The Human Condition

Collin Flaherty

Ap Literature

Pd.6

The Human Condition is an important part in aiding readers to understand literature. Literary critics often label a piece of writing as literature if it tries to describe aspects of the Human condition we see in ourselves. The Human Condition is any concern about human nature, human society or how we live our lives. In the literary works A Separate Peace and Hamlet one of the main central themes in the stories as well as an example of the human condition is loyalty. Throughout both stories different characters’ loyalty to others as well as their wants, needs or internal desires. Using reoccurring motifs of the human condition allow both pieces of literature to be much more relatable to the reader in addition to adding in crucial human qualities to make the piece feel real.

Knowles' purpose for writing A Separate Peace was to input his own ideas by attaching symbolism to real-world events such as World War Two as well as basing his characters’ relationships around them. In A Separate Peace Knowles uses symbolism to show the coming of age of young people in high school. One of the integral themes of a separate peace is loyalty. The notion of loyalty is present through much of the novel, but as the novel moves forward the simple loyalty attributed to Finny is complicated and developed into a complex notion relating to individual identity, innocence (and the loss of innocence), and the meaning of integrity. Originally rejected by American publishers, John Knowles’ A Separate Peace appeared in England in 1959, where critics admiringly compared it to Salinger’s writings. American critics, responding in 1960 to the American edition, generally noted its depth, sensitivity, and ‘disturbing allegories’ (Ai...

... middle of paper ...

...tary through it. By using a real world event such as World War Two and using fictional characters Knowles can provide a different insight on the events and show how it effects the characters actions and the progression of the novel. During WWII the only topic on campus was the war. About either who has recently joined or what has happened to those who have joined. Finny and Gene chose not to speak of the war to each other, just to concentrate on the Olympics and what the best way to train. Today’s teens do not feel at all obligated to participate in the war, with so much more going on they try to put it in the back of their minds. But, teens during WWII felt tremendous pressure from their peers and adults to take part, as the whole country was doing everything that they could to help out the cause. Today the only person pressuring teens are the teen themselves.